Hitchin

Hitchin, a thriving market-town of Hertfordshire, on the Hiz, through the Ivel a feeder of the Ouse, 32 miles NNW. of London. An important railway junction, it has a fine old parish church, a modern town-hall, a free school (1622), a Friends' school, &c. The principal trade is in corn, malt, and flour; there are several large breweries; and many females are employed in straw-plaiting. Lavender has been grown here since 1568, and commercially, for lavender-water, since 1823. Hitchin was a place of some consequence in the days of King Alfred. It was the original seat of Girton College (q.v.). Pop. (1851) 5258; (1891) 8860.