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Thrivefest 2021 - University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield - 16/09/2021 - Photo: Richard Blaxall / Photerior
The Banqueting Hall at the Old Palace at Hatfield.
The news of her accession to the throne was brought to Elizabeth when she was sitting under an oak tree in Hatfield Park. She held her first Council of State in the Banqueting Hall of Hatfield Palace with her trusted advisers including William Cecil, later Lord Burghley.
A glimpse of Hatfield Old Palace, in the grounds of Hatfield House, the seat of the marquesses of Sailsbury. This is all that remains of the palace built by one of the bishops of Ely during the late 15th century. It was here that King Edward VI and his sister Queen Elizabeth I spent their childhood, the palace having been taken over by their father, King Henry VIII. The palace originally had four wings, but three of these were torn down in 1608 and their bricks used in the construction of Hatfield House. All that was left was the Banqueting Hall, which was used for stabling horses until it was restored by the 4th marquess during the 20th century. In the foreground is part of the Sundial Garden of Hatfield House.
31452 and 31459 spent a week I think testing radio reception at the south end of the ECML. 31452 is seen here leading up through Hatfield on 22 October 2009.
Hatfield station is currently undergoing rebuilding work but is fully operational and taxis and buses are readily available here.
Thorne and Hatfield Moors are the largest peak bogs in Britain. This peaty wasteland covers almost 10,000 acres. Once 7% of Britain was covered in peat bog, but this is now only one of the few examples to survive.
Peat digging, known locally as "hand graving", dates back to the 14th Century when it was a small-scale local industry.
But by the 1980s it had grown into a large industrial operation, resulting in the devastation of large areas of peatland.
Following a long fight by environmental campaigners, peat excavation was stopped and the area is now being turned into a conservation area.
The peatlands support a huge diversity of wildlife with 5,500 species of invertebrates including 200 different types of birds.
The Humberhead Peatlands are a meeting place of northern and southern species, resulting in a unique species mix.
The acidic peat creates an environment where few bacteria survive and there is no oxygen.
This slows down the process of decay and has preserved a huge number of fossils and early remains. Fossil insects provide a wealth of information about the bog and local environment thousands of years ago.
Safety - The old peat workings and ditches contain deep water which are dangerous so please keep to the paths.
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