Area guide: The quaint Hertfordshire village of Markyate

Due to its proximity to the borders of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, the village has been part of all three counties at different points in its history.

History

The village's name had several former variants, including Markyate Street, Market Street and Mergyate.

In 1145 a Benedictine convent was founded in a wood just north of Markyate, which was known as both 'Holy Trinity in the Wood' and 'Markyate Priory'.

The first prioress was Christina of Markyate. Born with the name Theodora into a wealthy merchant family, her mother claimed she knew her daughter would be holy because a dove had flown into her sleeve and lived there for seven days while she was pregnant.

The priory was dissolved in around 1537, and a large country house called Markyate Cell was built on the site - now known as the Grade II* listed Cell Park.

Amenities

The village's historic high street, which is lined with period buildings, is home to the majority of Markyate's amenities.

Markyate High Street (Image: Newsquest) The strip of shops offers a thriving mix of independent businesses and a few chains. There is a pharmacy, a beauty salon, an estate agents, a dry cleaners, a convenience store and Post Office, a fish and chip shop, a kebab shop and several curry houses.

There's also a popular village bakery, Pruden's, which was founded in 1928.

Property

Markyate has a number of period homes in and around the centre of the village. 

Since the 1950s, many more modern properties have been built between High Street and the Markyate Bypass.

New shops and houses have also been built in the area off Hicks Road, which was once occupied by light industry, since 2014.

Homes currently on the market in Markyate include Cell Park itself, a nine-bedroom Georgian manor house set in 3.5 acres of gardens, for £5,000,000.

For a somewhat cheaper option, a three-bedroom detached house in High Street is on the market for £875,000.

The Water Tower in Markyate is also for sale at £500,000, with planning permission granted to turn the disused water tower into a four-bedroom family home.

According to Rightmove, properties in Markyate had an overall average price of £430,984 over the past year.

Transport

Markyate is situated about 15 minutes' drive from Harpenden, St Albans and Luton, and has strong transport links.

The village is near to the M1 and around five miles from Luton Airport Parkway and Luton train stations.

Pubs

During the coaching era, Markyate was a popular stop-off point for travellers, with five public houses serving those passing through.

Only two traditional pubs remain: The Plume of Feathers in London Road and The Swan in High Street.

The Plume of Feathers in Markyate (Image: Newsquest) Schools

Markyate Village School and Nursery has around 250 pupils aged between three and 11. The school was rated 'good' at its most recent Ofsted inspection.

Beechwood Park is on the outskirts of the village, and is an independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged three to 13.

Notable residents

Among Markyate's notable residents over the years is Chris White, the bassist and songwriter for St Albans band The Zombies.

Going a long way back in time, Markyate was home to the notorious highwaywoman Katherine Ferrers - known as The Wicked Lady.

Lady Katherine was an English aristocrat who, according to legend, terrorised Hertfordshire as a highwaywoman during the Civil War.

The Swan in Markyate (Image: Newsquest) In her early teens, Katherine was married off to Sir Thomas Fanshawe, who took control of her estate and sold off many of her assets - including her manor at Flamstead and much of its surrounding land.

To take her financial future into her own hands, Katherine embarked on a highly successful career as a highwaywoman, before she was reportedly killed by a gunshot wound during a botched robbery.

Cell Park - which is now on sale - was Lady Katherine's former home.

She would allegedly dress in men's clothes and escape into the night via a secret staircase at the country house.

This area guide is sponsored by Frost's, which has offices in St Albans, Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Marshalswick (Image: Frost's)