Bengeo

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude = 51.804
longitude = -0.079
official_name = Bengeo
population =
shire_district = East Hertfordshire
shire_county = Hertfordshire
region = East of England
constituency_westminster = Hertford and Stortford
post_town = HERTFORD
postcode_district = SG14
postcode_area = SG
dial_code = 01992
os_grid_reference = TL325135
london_distance=
website=

Bengeo is a village which is now considered part of the town Hertford in England. Bengeo can be found in the "Domesday Book". It is situated on a rise between the River Beane and River Rib overlooking Hartham Common and the rest of the Hertford town.

Name

Bengeo is an Anglo-Saxon name, meaning spur or ridge over the River Beane.

Geography

Bengeo is divided into Upper Bengeo, which is the area at the top of the hill (Port Hill) leading out of Hertford, and Lower Bengeo.

Lower Bengeo is the area lying on the side of the hill above Hertford and centered on Byde Street. Lower Bengeo has two pubs in Port Vale and also Mill Mead Primary School but no shops. Although the labels of 'Upper' and 'Lower' are occasionally used to describe parts of Bengeo, they are not official titles, and have no legal standing.

Bengeo has been incorporated in Hertford as Hertford has expanded. For some there is now no distinction between Hertford and Bengeo, and the two are considered to be part of the same place. Bengeo is surrounded by countryside and has its own amenities, for example a Post Office, local shops, Bengeo Primary School, pubs and two churches.

Notable buildings

The Norman Church of Saint Leonard, which is the oldest building in Hertford, was one of the first buildings to be constructed in the original village of Bengeo. This church is still used for weddings and other services.

The prominent water tower is an early 1930s concrete structure, and has an array of aerials on the top, providing amongst other things a local television relay from the Crystal Palace transmitting station.

ee also

* Hertford
* Horns Mill
* Rush Green
* Sele Farm