Images of the past
This section contains images of a bygone Hatfield. It contains engravings and photographs of views that have changed or no longer exist.
The Official Illustrated Guide To The Great Northern Railway
One of the official guides produced to cover the various railway companies operating out of London. Contains useful information on the company, its services and various places on its route. Written by George Measom and produced in 1857, this is said to be the second edition. It was available at all stations on the line and at three retailers (two in London and one in York; only W H Smith and Son is believed to be still in existence). Price one shilling (or two, if you wanted the cloth bound, gilt lettered edition).
Hatfield, from the line
Our Own Country engravings
Our Own Country was an early round Britain travelogue published by Cassell & Company, Limited of London, Paris & New York, around 1890. Volume 2 covers Hatfield.
Hatfield from the railway station – the building on the top left is marked Salisbury Arms
Front of old Hatfield House – in reality, the old Bishop's Palace
View through the old gateway – something of the reverse view to the above. The tall chimney in the middle is probably the Hatfield Brewery.
Front of Hatfield House – image at the front of this volume.
The Dining-Hall, Hatfield – a view of the interior of Hatfield House
The Illustrated London News
World's first weekly illustrated (using engravings) newspaper, launched in 1842. This is the Saturday, 28 October 1865 edition, and the engraving below took up over half the front page.
Brocket Hall, Hatfield, Herts, where Lord Palmerston died
Postcard Tour
This is a separate section of this site containing a number of postcard views of Hatfield – mainly of the area known today as Old Hatfield, which has changed dramatically.
Francis Frith photographs
Francis Frith was a Victorian photographer who founded a photographic views company around 1860. The company he founded captured views from across Britain for over a century – including a number in Hatfield taken around the 1950s and 1960s.