:Hatfield, Hertfordshire

In the early tenth century Hatfield belonged to a vir potens (powerful man) called Ordmær and his wife Ealde, who may have been the grandfather of King Edward the Martyr. Sometime between 932 and 956 he exchanged the town for land in Devon with Æthelstan Half-King, who then gave it to his sons. King Edgar seized the land when he became king on 959, claiming that Ordmær and Ealde had bequeathed it to him, but Æthelstan's sons recovered it after Edgar died.{{cite book| first=Cyril|last=Hart |title=The Danelaw|page=586 |publisher=The Hambledon Press |location = London, UK|year=1992|isbn= 978-1-85285-044-9 }} Hatfield is recorded in Domesday Book of 1086 as the property of the Abbey of Ely, and unusually the original census data that compilers of Domesday used survives, giving us slightly more information than in the final Domesday record.Hatfield And Its People, Workers Educational Association, 13 vols., 1959–1966 No other records remain until 1226, when Henry III granted the Bishops of Ely rights to an annual four-day fair and a weekly market. The town was then called Bishop's Hatfield.

Hatfield House is the seat of the Cecil family, the Marquesses of Salisbury. Elizabeth Tudor was confined there for three years in what is now known as The Old Palace in Hatfield Park. Legend has it that she learnt here of her accession as queen in 1558 while sitting under an oak tree in the Park. She held her first Council in the Great Hall (The Old Palace) of Hatfield. In 1851 the route of the Great North Road (now the A1000) was altered to avoid cutting through the grounds of Hatfield House.

The town grew up around the gates of Hatfield House. Old Hatfield retains many historic buildings, notably the Old Palace, St Etheldreda's Church and Hatfield House. The Old Palace was built by the Bishop of Ely, Cardinal Morton, in 1497, during the reign of Henry VII, and the only surviving wing is still used today for Elizabethan-style banquets.

St Etheldreda's Church was founded by the monks from Ely, and the first wooden church, built in 1285, was probably sited where the existing building stands overlooking the old town.

The church of St Etheldreda, well situated towards the top of the hill, contains an Early English round arch with dog-tooth moulding, but for the rest is Decorated and Perpendicular and largely restored. The chapel north of the chancel is known as the Salisbury chapel and was erected by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, who was buried here. It is in a combination of classic and Gothic styles. In a private portion of the churchyard is buried, among others of the family, Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.{{EB1911 |wstitle=Hatfield |volume=13 |page=62 |inline=1}}

File:Hatfield, The Comet hotel - geograph.org.uk - 209701.jpg; the aircraft is not the original ]]

In 1930 the de Havilland airfield and aircraft factory was opened at Hatfield and by 1949 it had become the largest employer in the town, with almost 4,000 staff. It was taken over by Hawker Siddeley in 1960 and merged into British Aerospace in 1978.{{Cite web |url=http://hatfieldaviationheritage.co.uk/hatfield-aerodrome/ |title=Hatfield's Aviation Heritage » Hatfield Aerodrome |access-date=31 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503124104/http://hatfieldaviationheritage.co.uk/hatfield-aerodrome/ |archive-date=3 May 2015 |url-status=dead }} In the 1930s it produced a range of small biplanes. During the Second World War it produced the Mosquito fighter bomber and developed the Vampire, the second British production jet aircraft after the Gloster Meteor. After the war, facilities were expanded and it developed the Comet airliner (the world's first production jet liner), the Trident airliner, and an early bizjet, the DH125.

British Aerospace closed the Hatfield site in 1993 having moved the BAe 146 production line to Woodford Aerodrome. The land was used as a film set for Steven Spielberg's movie Saving Private Ryan and most of the BBC/HBO television drama Band of Brothers. It was later developed for housing, higher education, commerce and retail.

Today, Hatfield's aviation history is remembered by the names of certain local streets and pubs (e. g. Comet Way, The Airfield, Dragon Road) as well as The Comet Hotel (now owned by Ramada) built in the 1930s. The Harrier Pub (formerly The Hilltop) is actually named after the Harrier bird, not the aircraft, hence the original pub sign showing the bird. The de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, at Salisbury Hall in nearby London Colney, preserves and displays many historic de Havilland aeroplanes and related archives.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/ |title=de Havilland Aircraft Museum |website=dehavillandmuseum.co.uk |language=en-US |access-date=2018-11-26}}

File:Hatfield New Town.jpg

The Abercrombie Plan for London in 1944 proposed a New Town in Hatfield. It was designated in the New Towns Act 1946 (9 & 10 Geo. 6. c. 68), forming part of the initial Hertfordshire group with nearby Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City and Hemel Hempstead. The Government allocated {{convert|2340|acre|km2}} for Hatfield New Town, with a population target of 25,000.Brett, Lionel, Hatfield New Town, Report of the Hatfield Development Corporation, 1949 (By 2001 the population had reached 27,833.[http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/tabKS01sett.pdf Office for National Statistics, 2001 Census, Key Statistics for HCC Settlements] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326085841/http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/tabKS01sett.pdf |date=26 March 2009}}) The Hatfield Development Corporation, tasked with creating the New Town, chose to build a new town centre, rejecting Old Hatfield because it was on the wrong side of the railway, without space for expansion and "with its intimate village character, out of scale with the town it would have to serve." They chose instead St Albans Road on the town's east–west bus route. A road pattern was planned that offered no temptation to through traffic to take short cuts through the town and which enabled local traffic to move rapidly.

Hatfield retains New Town characteristics, including much modernist architecture of the 1950s and the trees and open spaces that were outlined in the original design. As of 2017, a redevelopment of the town centre was planned.{{cite web |url=http://www.welhat.gov.uk/htcplans |title=Hatfield Town Centre Redevelopment |website=welhat.gov.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103646/http://www.welhat.gov.uk/htcplans |archive-date=25 August 2017 |access-date=24 August 2017 }}

File:Birchwood Leisure Centre.jpg

There are three tiers of local government covering Hatfield, at parish, district and county level: Hatfield Town Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council. Hatfield Town Council has its offices and meeting place at the Birchwood Leisure Centre on Longmead. Hatfield town council is currently under a Labour administration.{{cite web |title=Hatfield Town Council |url=https://hatfield-herts.gov.uk/ |access-date=6 July 2023}}

File:Tudor House, St Albans Road, Hatfield.jpg

From 1894 until 1974 the lower two tiers of local government were Hatfield Parish Council and Hatfield Rural District Council. The rural district council built itself a headquarters at 16 St Albans Road East in 1930.{{cite web |title=Percival Blow – List of Works |url=https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Percival-Blow-List-of-Works-October-2019.pdf |website=St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society |access-date=6 July 2023 |date=October 2019}} The rural district council was abolished in 1974 and its powers transferred to Welwyn Hatfield.{{cite web |title=Hatfield Rural District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10135424 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |access-date=6 July 2023}}

Hatfield is twinned with the Dutch port town of Zierikzee. Hatfield is part of the Welwyn Hatfield constituency, which also includes Welwyn Garden City. The member of parliament (MP) for Welwyn Hatfield is Andrew Lewin, of the Labour Party.

Hatfield Town F.C. plays Non-League football at Gosling Sports Park. The Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club are a field hockey club based in Hatfield.

Hatfield Athletic Football Club competes in the Herts Senior County League and plays its games at Lemsford.[http://www.hatfieldathleticfc.com Retrieved 9 June 2019.]

The town has a public swimming pool and four sports/leisure centres (two with indoor swimming pools).

Hatfield experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) like most of the United Kingdom.

{{Weather box

|location = Hatfield

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = 8

|Feb high C = 9

|Mar high C = 12

|Apr high C = 14

|May high C = 18

|Jun high C = 21

|Jul high C = 23

|Aug high C = 23

|Sep high C = 20

|Oct high C = 16

|Nov high C = 11

|Dec high C = 8

|year high C = 15

|Jan low C = 5

|Feb low C = 5

|Mar low C = 6

|Apr low C = 8

|May low C = 10

|Jun low C = 13

|Jul low C = 15

|Aug low C = 16

|Sep low C = 13

|Oct low C = 11

|Nov low C = 8

|Dec low C = 5

|year low C = 10

|Jan precipitation mm = 50.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 39.9

|Mar precipitation mm = 31.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 46.2

|May precipitation mm = 38.9

|Jun precipitation mm = 46.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 33.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 43.6

|Sep precipitation mm = 49.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 70.7

|Nov precipitation mm = 58.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 56.9

|year precipitation mm = 565.9

|source 1 ={{cite web |url=http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:7401727&q=Hatfield%2c+GBR+forecast:averagesm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129190427/http://weather.msn.com/monthly_averages.aspx?wealocations=wc:7401727&q=Hatfield,+GBR+forecast:averagesm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-29 |title=Averages for Hatfield }}

|date=August 2010

}}

File:Hatfield Galleria exterior.jpg

File:tmob hatfield.jpg Head Office in Hatfield Business Park.]]

File:07-11-05 Hatfield 50.jpg.]]

File:Hatfield railway station.jpg

File:Hatfield GascoyneCecil statue.jpg in front of the park gates of Hatfield House.]]

Hatfield has a nine-screen Odeon cinema, a stately home (Hatfield House), a museum (Mill Green Museum), a contemporary art gallery (Art and Design Gallery), a theatre (The Weston Auditorium) and a music venue (The Forum Hertfordshire). There are shopping centres in the new town: the Galleria (indoor shopping centre), The Stable Yard (Hatfield House), and three supermarkets (ASDA, ALDI and Tesco). In 2022, Hatfield held its first vegan market, an event held in a number of English towns, at Hatfield House and now holds the market each June and November.{{Cite web |title=Vegan Market Co {{!}} Hatfield |url=https://www.veganmarkets.co.uk/location/hatfield |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=veganmarkets |language=en}} During Veganuary in 2023, students at the University of Hertfordshire organized their own vegan market.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-04 |title=University of Hertfordshire students to celebrate Veganuary with a plant-based market |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/23227514.hatfield-university-support-veganuary-plant-based-market/ |access-date=2023-06-06 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}

Hatfield contains numerous primary and secondary schools, including St Philip Howard Catholic Primary School, Howe Dell Primary School, Countess Anne School, Onslow St Audrey's School, Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School and the independent day and private boarding girls' school Queenswood School (only to name a few).

In addition to the important areas in the town, the University of Hertfordshire is also included by many. A large section of the airfield site was purchased by the university and the £120-million de Havilland Campus, incorporating a £15-million Sports Village, was opened in September 2003. The university has closed its sites at Watford and Hertford; faculties situated there have been moved to the de Havilland Campus.

The equine branch of the Royal Veterinary College is based in Hatfield.{{cite web |url=https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet |title=RVC Equine |publisher=Royal Veterinary College |access-date=1 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401213354/https://www.rvc.ac.uk/equine-vet |archive-date=1 April 2018}}

• Hatfield House
• Hatfield War Memorial
• The Forum Hertfordshire (music venue) University of Hertfordshire. In 2011, the music video for Ed Sheeran's Lego House, featuring Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, was filmed in Hatfield. Filming took place at The Forum venue, located on University of Hertfordshire, College Lane campus. Filming of the video took place during Sheeran's performance at the venue on 8 October 2011. Many students were involved during filming, as they made up most of the audience at the Forum that day.{{cite web |url=http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/ed_sheeran_and_rupert_grint_shoot_lego_house_video_at_forum_hertfordshire_in_hatfield_1_1117402 |title=Ed Sheeran and Rupert Grint shoot Lego House video at Forum Hertfordshire in Hatfield |last=Logan |first=Ross |work=Welwyn Hatfield Times |date=4 November 2011 |access-date=2016-09-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128112552/http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/ed_sheeran_and_rupert_grint_shoot_lego_house_video_at_forum_hertfordshire_in_hatfield_1_1117402 |archive-date=28 January 2017}}.
• Mill Green Museum and watermill
• Art and Design Gallery (contemporary art gallery) University of Hertfordshire
• The Weston Auditorium (theatre and cinema) University of Hertfordshire
• The Galleria{{cite web |url=http://thegalleria.co.uk/ |title=The Galleria – Outlet Shopping in Hertfordshire |website=thegalleria.co.uk |access-date=1 May 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409205505/https://thegalleria.co.uk/ |archive-date=9 April 2018}}
• Hatfield Business Park, the former de Havilland plant, later BAE Systems Hatfield, was used as a location for Saving Private Ryan (film) and Band of Brothers (TV series).

Hatfield is {{convert|20|mi|km}} to the north of London. It is {{convert|14|mi|km}} from London Luton Airport. The A1(M) runs through a tunnel beneath the town, which is also close to the M25.

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was the northern terminus of the Hatfield and Reading Turnpike that allowed travelers from the north to continue their journey to the west without going through the congestion of London.

The East Coast railway line from London to York runs through the town, separating the old and new parts. A commuter service connects Hatfield railway station to London King's Cross. A new railway station and car park opened in late 2015. The frequent train service runs direct from Hatfield Station to London King's Cross (21 minutes) via Finsbury Park (16 minutes, Victoria Underground Line) on fast trains running two or three times an hour. An additional train service calls at all stations to Moorgate in the City of London.

Hatfield is well served by buses with regular services to all nearby towns and villages and as far as north London. Bus services are run by Uno, Arriva and Centrebus who are all part of the local Intalink Partnership.

The Hatfield rail crash occurred in October 2000, which brought track-maintenance deficiencies to public attention.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1482439/Hatfield-crash-was-disaster-waiting-to-happen.html |title=Hatfield crash 'was disaster waiting to happen' |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=31 January 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210181641/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1482439/Hatfield-crash-was-disaster-waiting-to-happen.html |archive-date=10 February 2018}} A garden beside the East Coast Main Line was built as a memorial to the crash victims.

==Local media==

The local TV stations are BBC London & ITV London, received from the Crystal Palace TV transmitter and the Hemel Hempstead relay transmitter.{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Crystal_Palace|title=Full Freeview on the Crystal Palace (Greater London, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=2 October 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Hemel_Hempstead|title=Full Freeview on the Hemel Hempstead (Hertfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=2 October 2023}} BBC East and ITV Anglia are also received from the Sandy Heath TV transmitter.{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sandy_Heath|title=Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=2 October 2023}}

Local radio stations are BBC Three Counties Radio on 90.4 FM, Heart Hertfordshire on 106.9 and Radio Verulam on 92.6 FM.

The Welwyn Hatfield Times is the town's local weekly newspaper.{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/welwyn-hatfield-times/|title=Welwyn Hatfield Times|date=21 October 2013|website=British Papers|accessdate=2 October 2023}}

• Michael Birch (born 1970), founder of the social network BEBO, lived in Hatfield.{{Cite web |last=Shead |first=Sam |date=2017-02-21 |title=The incredible life of Mike Birch, the Brit who sold Bebo for $850 million before buying it back for $1 million |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/incredible-life-of-bebo-cofounder-mike-birch-2017-7#michael-birch-was-born-in-sawston-cambridgeshire-on-july-7-1970-that-makes-him-47-years-old-1 |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}
• Geoffrey de Havilland (1882–1965), founder of De Havilland Aircraft Company{{Cite book |last=Havilland |first=Sir Geoffrey De |url=https://books.google.com.br/books/about/Sky_Fever.html?id=_vcfAQAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y |title=Sky Fever: The Autobiography of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland |date=1999 |publisher=Airlife |isbn=978-1-84037-148-2 |pages=154 |language=en}}
• Jack Olding (Henry John Douglas Olding, fl. mid-20th c.), wartime tank and tractor importer, came from Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Jack Olding and Company |url=http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/features/olding.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.hatfield-herts.co.uk}}

• Babe Ruth, a 1970s rock band, came from Hatfield.[http://www.discogs.com/artist/Babe+Ruth Discogs Babe Ruth] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621134713/http://www.discogs.com/artist/Babe+Ruth |date=21 June 2008 }}; [http://www.bobbyshred.com/baberuth.html Bobby Shred's Babe Ruth Tribute Page.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114171826/http://www.bobbyshred.com/baberuth.html |date=14 January 2006}}
• Colin Blunstone (born 1945), of the Zombies lived in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Colin Blunstone Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/colin-blunstone-mn0000776562/biography |access-date=2023-06-18 |publisher=AllMusic |language=en}}
• Martin Carthy (born 1941), folk musician, was born in Hatfield.{{cite book |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=1997 |publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=1-85227-745-9 |editor=Colin Larkin |editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |edition=Concise |page=236}}
• Sandra Conley (born 1943), principal dancer with the Royal Ballet.{{cite web |title=Sandra Conley |url=http://www.answers.com/topic/sandra-conley|website=The Oxford Dictionary of Dance |access-date=29 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112042257/http://www.answers.com/topic/sandra-conley |archive-date=12 November 2014}}
• Donovan (born 1946), folk musician, moved to Hatfield at the age of 10 and spent the rest of his childhood there.{{cite book |last=Donovan |first=Leitch |title=The Hurdy Gurdy Man|year=2006 |publisher=Arrow |isbn=978-0-09948703-6 |page=16}}
• Barbara Gaskin (born 1950), pop singer, No. 1 with "It's My Party".{{Cite web |title=Barbara Gaskin biography |url=https://davebarb.com/dsbgbarb.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin |language=en}}
• George Martin (1926–2016), record producer for the Beatles, lived in Hatfield in the 1950s.{{cite book |last1=Womack |first1=Kenneth |title=Maximum Volume: The Life of Beatles Producer George Martin, The Early Years, 1926–1966 |date=1 September 2017 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-61373-192-5 |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6nGDgAAQBAJ |access-date=14 September 2022 |language=en}}
• Alan Shacklock (born 1950), pop musician and record producer, lived in Hatfield.{{Cite book |last=Larkin |first=Colin |title=The encyclopedia of popular music |date=2006 |publisher=Muze Oxford University press |isbn=978-0-19-531373-4 |edition=4 |location=New York |pages=337 |language=en}}
• Sal Solo (Christopher Scott Stevens, born 1961), rock singer, was born in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Sal Solo: Veteran hitmaker shows there's life after "San Damiano" – Sal Solo |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Sal_Solo_Veteran_hitmaker_shows_theres_life_after_San_Damiano/36482/p1/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=crossrhythms.co.uk}}
• Mick Taylor (born 1949), Rolling Stones guitarist 1969–1974, grew up in Hatfield.{{cite web |author=Jim Sheridan |title=Mick Taylor Re-examined, Part 1 |url=http://micktaylor.net/MT_re-examinedp1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030803005046/http://micktaylor.net/MT_re-examinedp1.htm |archive-date=3 August 2003}}
• Tracey Thorn (born 1962), lead singer of Everything But The Girl, was born in Hatfield,{{Cite web |last=Metro |first=Claire Allfree for |date=2013-02-04 |title=Tracey Thorn: I moan a lot, don’t I? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2013/02/04/tracey-thorn-i-dont-think-i-ever-came-up-with-a-good-way-to-be-myself-and-be-a-pop-star-3379015/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Metro |language=en}} and attended Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School.{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2015-04-21 |title=Carol Morley and Tracey Thorn: "Girls' schools? They’re a hotpot of urges" |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/21/carol-morley-tracey-thorn-the-falling |access-date=2025-03-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

• Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury (c. 1563–1612), statesman{{Cite web |title=HATFIELD HOUSE, Hatfield - 1173363 {{!}} Historic England |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1173363?section=official-list-entry |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=historicengland.org.uk |language=en}}
• Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830–1903), Conservative politician, lived at Hatfield House{{Cite web |last=Cataldo |first=Sarah |date=2023-07-14 |title=The Oak House through the ages |url=https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/latest-news/the-oak-house-through-the-ages/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Hatfield Park |language=en-GB}} and was buried at St Etheldreda Church.
• Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury (1893–1972), Conservative politician{{Cite journal |last=Todd |first=Alexander Robertus |date=1973-12-01 |title=Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury, 1893-1972 |url=https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.1973.0022 |journal=Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society |volume=19 |pages=621–627 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.1973.0022}}
• William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne (1779–1848), prime minister, was buried at St Etheldreda Church.
• Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865), prime minister{{Cite book |last=Bulwer |first=Henry Lytton |url=https://ia600405.us.archive.org/26/items/lifeofhenryjohnt03dall/lifeofhenryjohnt03dall.pdf |title=The Life of Henry John Temple, Viscount Palmerston: With Selections from His Diaries and Correspondence |date=1874 |publisher=J. B. Lippincott & Company |volume=III |pages=406 |language=en}}
• Elizabeth Tudor (1533–1603), future queen, lived at Hatfield House (Hatfield Old Palace){{Cite web |title=BBC - History - Elizabeth I: An Overview |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/elizabeth_i_01.shtml |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en-GB}}
• Malcolm Wicks (1947–2012), Labour Party politician and Minister for Energy, was born in Hatfield.{{Cite news |date=2012-10-01 |title=Malcolm Wicks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/9580005/Malcolm-Wicks.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027031317/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/9580005/Malcolm-Wicks.html |archive-date=2023-10-27 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Daily Telegraph |language=en}}

• Walter Curle (1575–1647), Bishop of Winchester and a close supporter of William Laud, was born in Hatfield.{{acad|id=CRL592W|name=Curle, Walter}}
• John Morton (c. 1420–1500), Cardinal and Bishop of Ely, built Hatfield Old Palace.Bentham, J. (1771). The History and Antiquities of the Conventual and Cathedral Church of Ely. Cambridge University Press. p. 181.

• L. H. Sumanadasa (1910–1986), aviator and university founder, learned to fly at Hatfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/aviation/sumanadasa.html |title=Dr Lokusatu Heva Sumanadasa – pilot, engineer and educator |publisher=hatfield-herts.co.uk|access-date=25 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508014351/http://www.hatfield-herts.co.uk/aviation/sumanadasa.html|archive-date=8 May 2012}}
• John Tradescant the elder (c. 1570s–1638), botanist, gardener and naturalist, was head gardener at Hatfield House{{cite web |date=28 January 2012 |title=Tradescant family |url=https://vauxhallhistory.org/tradescant-family/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |publisher=The Vauxhall Society}}
• Michael Ventris (1922–1956), deciphered Linear B script, died in Hatfield in a motor accident{{Cite book |last=Chadwick |first=John |title=The decipherment of Linear B |pages=3}}{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Andrew |title=The man who deciphered Linear B |pages=150–152}}

• Keith Abbis (born 1932), Brighton and Hove Albion footballer{{Cite web |title=Barry Hugman's Footballers |url=http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/6 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=barryhugmansfootballers.com}}
• Samir Carruthers (born 1993), Sheffield United footballer, lived in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Samir turns down Arsenal but signs for Aston Villa instead |url=http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Home/Samir-turns-down-Arsenal-but-signs-for-Aston-Villa-instead.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125015648/http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Home/Samir-turns-down-Arsenal-but-signs-for-Aston-Villa-instead.htm |archive-date=2013-01-25 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Hertfordshire Mercury |language=en}}
• Matthew Connolly (born 1987), QPR defender, lived and attended primary school in Hatfield.{{Cite web |date=2015-03-27 |title=Connolly reveals Hornets attempted to sign him in January |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11883640.matthew-connolly-says-watford-initially-attempted-to-sign-him-on-loan-from-cardiff-city-in-january-but-is-happy-to-finally-be-a-hornet/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Watford Observer |language=en}}
• Iain Dowie (born 1965), West Ham player, QPR manager & BBC pundit, was born and raised in Hatfield and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Hertfordshire.{{cite news |date=1 August 2003 |title=Profile: Iain Dowie |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/46fc2508-380a-426a-9469-7f0d17dd3525 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930194134/https://www.thetimes.com/article/46fc2508-380a-426a-9469-7f0d17dd3525 |archive-date=30 September 2024 |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Times |location=London}}
• Valentine Faithfull (1820–1894), first-class cricketer and clergyman, was born in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 |url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124115814/https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |archive-date=2013-01-24 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=The Royal Society of Edinburgh |page=302 |language=en}}
• Rodney Marsh (born 1944), QPR footballer, is from Hatfield.{{Citation |last=Marsh |first=Rodney |title=Priceless |pages=1 |year=2001 |publisher=Headline |language=en |isbn=0-7553-1000-4 |ref=CITEREFMarsh2001 |author2=Alex Henderson}}
• Francis Pember (1862–1954), first-class cricketer, was born in Hatfield.{{cite book |last1=Dauglish |first1=M. G. |url=https://archive.org/details/harrowschoolregi00harruoft/page/510/mode/2up?view=theater |title=The Harrow School Register, 1800-1911 |last2=Stephenson |first2=P. K. |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co. |year=1911 |edition=3 |location=London |page=511 |language=en}}
• Billy Joe Saunders (born 1989), WBO middleweight world champion boxer{{Cite news |last=Addley |first=Esther |date=2008-08-03 |title=Going for gold: young Gypsy keeps up a family tradition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/04/olympicgames2008.olympicsboxing |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
• Korey Smith (born 1991) Bristol City footballer was born and grew up in Hatfield{{Cite web |title=Korey Smith |url=http://barryhugmansfootballers.com/player/25364 |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Barry Hugman's Footballers}}

• Sanjeev Bhaskar (born 1963), comedian and broadcaster, lived in Hatfield whilst studying at Hatfield Polytechnic.{{cite news |last=Lacey |first=Hester |date=2 May 2014 |title=The Inventory: Sanjeev Bhaskar |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e464b256-d002-11e3-a2b7-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716235944/https://www.ft.com/content/e464b256-d002-11e3-a2b7-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |access-date=13 June 2020 |newspaper=Financial Times|location=London}}
• John Cazabon (1914–1983), actor on stage, screen and radio, was born in Hatfield.{{cite news |date=31 August 1910 |title=Amusements |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164342717 |accessdate=1 August 2020 |newspaper=The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=47 |language=en |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XC |issue=2547}}
• Pippa Haywood (born 1961), television, stage and radio actress, was born in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Pippa Haywood - Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0371846/bio/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
• Diane-Louise Jordan (born 1960), television presenter, grew up in Hatfield.{{cite news |last=Renshaw |first=Rosalind |date=15 April 2008 |title=Working relationship: Diane-Louise Jordan, the television presenter, and her right-hand man, Robin Major |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article3751788.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611165807/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/article3751788.ece |archive-date=11 June 2011 |accessdate=7 February 2010 |work=The Times |location=London}}
• David Kossoff (1919–2005), broadcaster and father of Paul Kossoff of the 1960s rock band Free, lived in Hatfield.{{cite web |title=David Kossoff |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/6381 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113185937/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/6381 |archive-date=2009-01-13 |publisher=British Film Institute}}{{Cite news |date=2005-03-24 |title=Drug abuse campaigning actor dies |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/4378131.stm |access-date=2024-09-30 |language=en-GB}}
• Derek Martin (born 1933), actor known especially for role of Charlie Slater in EastEnders{{Cite web |date=2016-01-21 |title=EastEnders star from Hatfield is alive and kicking despite dramatic exit |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22498980.eastenders-star-hatfield-alive-kicking-despite-dramatic-exit/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}
• Gerry Northam (born 1947), radio presenter and investigative journalist, was born in Hatfield.
• Guy Ritchie (born 1968), film director famous for Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, was born in Hatfield.{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=201267 |title=Guy Ritchie Biography |publisher=The Biography Channel |access-date=12 December 2007 |archive-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316042127/http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=201267 |url-status=dead }}
• Letitia Dean, born in Hatfield.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-18 |title=5 people you didn’t know were from Welwyn Hatfield |url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22355166.5-people-didnt-know-welwyn-hatfield/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Welwyn Hatfield Times |language=en}}

• Moniza Alvi (born 1954), poet and writer, grew up in Hatfield.{{Cite web |title=Moniza Alvi |url=https://poetryarchive.org/poet/moniza-alvi/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Poetry Archive |language=en-GB}}
• Barbara Cartland (1901–2000), author of romances, lived in Hatfield.{{Cite news |last=Malvern |first=Jack Malvern |date=2016-10-14 |title=Beatrix Potter was a stranger to wilderness |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/potter-was-a-stranger-to-natural-landscapes-0v0jv0ssl |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=The Times |language=en |quote=Potter’s grandparents lived at Camfield Place, Hertfordshire, later the home of the novelist Barbara Cartland.}}
• Geoffrey Drage (1860–1955), non-fiction writer and politician, was born in Hatfield.
• Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653–1692), poet and playwright, was born in Hatfield, where his father was rector.{{Cite web |title=Dr. Richard Lee of Hatfield, and his son, Richard Lee, of Essendon |url=https://www.stalbanshistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1901_02_01_1.pdf |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society |language=en}}

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Bell Bar
• Borehamwood
• Brookmans Park
• Colney Heath
• Hertford
• Lemsford, village within Hatfield civil parish
• Letty Green
• London Colney
• Newgate Street, village within Hatfield civil parish
• Potters Bar
• St Albans
• Stevenage
• Watford
• Welham Green
• Welwyn Garden City

{{div col end}}

• Council of Hatfield
• {{wikivoyage inline|Hatfield}}

{{Commons category|Hatfield, Hertfordshire}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Hertfordshire}}

{{Civil parishes of Hertfordshire}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in Hertfordshire

Category:Civil parishes in Hertfordshire

Category:Planned communities in England

Category:Planned communities established in the 1940s