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Baldock Town
In the extreme north of Hertfordshire, Baldock grew up where the Great North Road crossed the Icknield Way and the upper reaches of the River Ivel. The town's greatest feature is its parish church of St. Mary, a spacious building in the town centre with its large 14th century west tower capped by a small and typical Hertfordshire 'spike' (or steeple).The main part of the church is of the 14th century, although some windows are later, and the quite splendid screens which extend right across the chancel arch and aisles are of the 15th century. The wood carving of the screens is superb and the rood screen is more ornate. Monuments include a 13th century marble coffin lid, and several brasses of the 15th century including one depicting a man with a hunting horn. More ornate is a typically Victorian memorial to Georgiana Caldecott, who is shown backed by an angel carrying her soul up to Heaven.
Baldock's town centre boasts some handsome 16th, 17th and 18th century houses. The four main streets meet at the junction of the earlier Roman routes, although the Roman town itself was a short way distant. The Great North Road actually ran past both the church and the market place, and part of this famous road, lined by grass banks and trees, forms the High Street. The most imposing structure in the High Street, is the Tesco Supermarket. This striking Art Deco facade, formerly the Keyser Bonder hosiery factory, is all that remains of the film studio which was built following the fire of 1928 which destroyed the manor house which originally stood on this site.
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