Books and leaflets published by the Society
The publications are also available from the Tourist Information Centre, Market Square, Hertfordshire Archives (HALS), County Hall Hertford and Waterstones, South Street (except The History of Warwick Road).
Town Trails
There are five town trails and a children’s trail which have been published in collaboration with Bishop’s Stortford Town Council and Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation. These trails are available from the Tourist Information Centre, Market Square and from Bishop’s Stortford Museum at South Mill Arts.
The trails can also be downloaded.
The Bishops’ Castle: Waytemore & Bishop’s Stortford, Michael F James & Ruth Haliwell
This newly published book is a fascinating account of the history of the castle, the remains of which can be seen In Castle Park.
Waytemore Castle in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, was probably built around 1070 by William, the Bishop of London. This was early for Norman castle-building, and of hundreds of such castles in England, only a dozen or so were episcopal. Waytemore remained in active use for over five centuries, far longer than most of its contemporaries. It housed a gatehouse, prison and chapel and there were many burials there. These simple facts suggest the site’s importance, yet Waytemore is largely ignored in academic researches. Why was it called ‘Waytemore’? Was it really a castle, as we think of the term? The Normans built to impress, so why was it located in a river valley? How was it built? Why a Norman Bishop, not a Norman military baron? Why in Bishop’s Stortford? Using archaeological and historical evidence, with many original maps and illustrations, the authors have thoroughly researched the history of the castle; this book proposes some answers to these questions and provides a new perspective on the development of Bishop’s Stortford.
Co-author Mike James is a committee member of BSHS
Published Sept 2025. ISBN: 9781738528929, Price £25.00
Bishop’s Stortford Yesterday and Today – Revisited
This is a newly updated and revised edition of the original 1971 publication, with additional new photographs taken in 2024, to complement the original images. ISBN: 9781738528905. Price £8.00 (2024).
Bishop’s Stortford: A Short History
A short but comprehensive history of the town from ancient to modern times, continuously in print since 1969, last revised and reprinted 2001. ISBN: 0950120944. Price £8.00
The History of Warwick Road, Bishop’s Stortford, John Rhodes
A history of this unique Bishop’s Stortford road, originally part of Sir Walter Gilbey’s Hockerill Park project. Price £6.50 (2020).
Local History Chronicles
Part 1: The Gilbey Family, Thorley, The Roads of Bishop’s Stortford
Includes papers on the Gilbey Family by H. L. Sanders, Thorley by A. P. Pryor, and Taken on Trust: the roads of Bishop’s Stortford by W. J. Wright. (1989). Currently out of print.
Part 2: Public Houses and Hotels Past and Present by Joe G. Smith.
An exhaustive history of over 100 pubs and hotels that have existed in Bishop’s Stortford, including those that were then currently active (revised 1976 and reprinted 1997). A new, updated and revised edition will be published in early 2025.
Part 3: Cinemas and Entertainment Past and Present by Joe G. Smith
A look at the history of cinema in Bishop’s Stortford, written by the grandson of the man responsible for creating and managing several of the town’s cinemas. (2001). Currently out of print.
It is intended that both Parts 1 and 3 will be revised andreprinted in the near future. In the meantime, copies are often available on online shopping sites and can also be consulted at Bishop’s Stortford Library, in the Local History Reference section or at Bishop’s Stortford Museum.
Buying our publications
All of our books which are currently in print can be purchased directly from the Society. A discount is available for Society members. These are on sale at our monthly meetings. They may also be ordered for delivery by post, subject to an extra charge of £2.50 for P&P. Payment is taken by credit card. Please e-mail your order to: bshschair@btinternet.com
The publications are also available from the Tourist Information Centre, Market Square, Hertfordshire Archives (HALS), County Hall Hertford and Waterstones, South Street (except The History of Warwick Road).
Town Trails
There are five town trails and a children’s trail which have been published in collaboration with Bishop’s Stortford Town Council and Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation. These trails are available from the Tourist Information Centre, Market Square and from Bishop’s Stortford Museum at South Mill Arts.
The trails can also be downloaded.