Location within the British Isles

Royston is the most northern town in Hertfordshire. It lies at the crossing of two ancient thoroughfares, Ermine Street and the Icknield Way (cum Ashwell Street). A cross, named Roisia's Cross, was erected by the crossroads, and it is from this that the town takes its name. The base of the cross still exists and has been placed by the cross roads. Download high resolution version (1802x2589, 189 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Royston Categories: GFDL images | GBdot ... Download high resolution version (1802x2589, 189 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Royston Categories: GFDL images | GBdot ... The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland (usually) and a number of much smaller surrounding islands. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Ermine Street was the Saxon name of a road in England that ran from London to Lincoln and York. ... The Icknield Way is one of the oldest roads in Britain, being one of the few long-distance trackways to have existed before the Romans occupied the country. ... A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross rotated by 45 degrees For other uses, see Cross (disambiguation). ... Roisias Cross is a cross in Royston, Hertfordshire, at the crossroads of Ermine Street and the Icknield Way (cum Ashwell Street). ...

These roads are sometimes called military roads as they were prepared or improved by Roman military forces to facilitate their access to the hinterland of Britain. The exact site of this cross is unknown but it probably stood in the southeastern angle of the roads between the dome of Royston Cave and the line of Ermine Street in the parish of Barkway. Its name comes from the Lady Roisia, wife of Eudo Dapifer, steward to William the Conqueror. In the late twelfth century there is the first mention of Crux Roys, a wayside cross near a priory of Austin Canons. Royston cave is a small but absorbingly interesting artificial cave in Royston in Hertfordshire, England. ... Barkway is a village and civil parish in the North Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, about five miles south-east of Royston. ... William I ( 1027 – September 9, 1087), was King of England from 1066 to 1087. ... The Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo (died AD 430), are several Roman Catholic monastic orders and congregations of both men and women living according to a guide to religious life known as the Rule of Saint Augustine. ...

The crossroads were linked to five parishes: Therfield, Melbourn, Bassingbourn, Kneesworth and Barkway. Ralph de Rochester founded the priory which came out of a chapel for three canons, later expanded to seven or more regular canons. Royston also had two hospitals, or free chapels, as well as the monastery. Map sources for Therfield at grid reference TL334371 Therfield is both a small village of approximately 4,761 acres (19 km²) and a parish (originally in Odsey Hundred and Royston Union) which sits upon the chalk range, three miles southwest of Royston, and six miles (10 km) northeast of Baldock... Melbourn is a large village in the far south west of Cambridgeshire, England. ... A canons regular is a body of Canons (Priests) living under a rule. ...

The hospital of St John and St Thomas was founded for lepers and was located to the southwest of the junction. It was founded by Richard Argentine, reputedly a Templar and one time Sheriff of Cambridgeshire. John the Apostle (יוחנן The LORD is merciful, Standard Hebrew Yoḥanan, Tiberian Hebrew Yôḥānān) was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. ... St Thomas Becket (December 21, 1118 – December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170. ... For the malady found in the Hebrew Bible, see the article Tzaraath. ... This article is about the medieval military order. ... Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs) is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west. ...

The Hospital of St Nicholas was situated in the Cambridgeshire side of Royston. It was founded in about 1200 probably by Amphelise, a daughter of Richard the Chamberlain. In 1213 King John granted them a fair to celebrate the feast of St Nicholas (May 8 - 9). The patronage of the hospital subsequently descended to Sir Giles Argentine, who also held the patronage of the other Hospital. In the fourteenth century, St Nicholas Hospital was put under the jurisdiction of that of St John and St Thomas. The whole was suppressed in 1547. Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift... Events University of Paris receives charter from Philip II of France The Kanem-Bornu Empire was established in northern Africa around the year 1200 Mongol victory over Northern China — 30,000,000 killed Births Al-Abhari, Persian philosopher and mathematician (died 1265) Ulrich von Liechtenstein, German nobleman and poet (died... Events September 12 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester defeats Peter II of Aragon, the king of Aragon at the Battle of Muret. ... John (French: Jean) (December 24, c. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... Events January 16 - Grand Duke Ivan IV of Muscovy becomes the first Tsar of Russia. ...

The town having lost is monastic character, the site of the priory was obtained by Robert Chester, a gentleman of the bedchamber to Henry VIII, who set up a market. Much of the town was given over to inns catering for travellers mainly going between London and York. However on April 30, 1603 James VI of Scotland was travelling down to become King James I of England, pausing overnight at the Chester residence. Robert Chester is a military officer and lawyer. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... } London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining, as the last day in April. ... King James I of England/VII of Scotland, the first monarch to rule the Kingdoms of England and Scotland at the same time Events March - Samuel de Champlain, French explorer, sails to Canada March 24 - Elizabeth I of England dies and is succeeded by her cousin King James I of... James VI and I King of England, Scotland and Ireland James VI of Scotland and I of England (Charles James) (19 June 1566–27 March 1625) was a King who ruled over England, Scotland and Ireland, and was the first Sovereign to reign in the three realms simultaneously. ...

Within a few months, even before his coronation, King James decided to take up abode at the priory. He soon had an expanse of buildings which were never extensive enough to cater for a full court, but which provided a suitable spot for hunting, near enough to London for convenience and sufficiently far away to deter intrusion. Indeed he created a strict prohibition on anyone else from taking game within 14 miles (23 km) of Royston, and an elaborate infrastructure was established to support the King in the pursuit of his sport.

Queen Anne and Prince Henry only visited the town once, in 1611 – 1612. Next year the Queen opposed the marriage of her daughter, Princess Elizabeth to Frederick V, Elector Palatine, but the King came to Royston with Lord Rochester to negotiate the dowry which was signed there. Following the marriage, celebrated on St Valentine's day 1613, the King, Prince Charles and Frederick came to stay at Royston. Anne of Denmark (October 14, 1574 – March 4, 1619) was queen consort of King James I of England and VI of Scotland. ... For other people known as Henry, Prince of Wales see Henry, Prince of Wales (disambiguation). ... Events June 23 - Henry Hudsons crew maroons him, his son and 7 others in a boat November 1 - At Whitehall Palace in London, William Shakespeares romantic comedy The Tempest is presented for the first time. ... Events January 20 - Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... Elisabeth, Electress Palatine and (briefly) queen of Bohemia (August 19, 1596 – February 13, 1662), born Princess Elizabeth Stuart of Scotland, was born as the eldest daughter to King James VI of Scotland and his Queen consort Anne of Denmark. ... Frederick is also called the Winter King of Bohemia because he reigned for less than three winter months in 1620 after he was installed by a rebellious Protestant faction. ... Valentines Day postcard, c. ... Events January - Galileo observes Neptune, but mistakes it for a star and so is not credited with its discovery. ... Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. ...

In 1742 a strange cave carved out of the chalk was discovered in the centre of Royston. This cave is located underneath the central crossroads of the town where the Icknield Way crosses Ermine Street. // Events January 24 - Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... The Icknield Way is one of the oldest roads in Britain, being one of the few long-distance trackways to have existed before the Romans occupied the country. ... Ermine Street was the Saxon name of a road in England that ran from London to Lincoln and York. ...

The carvings in the cave have led to much speculation about the origin and function of the cave. Local historian Sylvia Beamon, in her book Royston cave — used by saints or sinners 1993, contends that there is a link with the Knights Templar, whereas other scholars detail ideas of habitation by a hermit. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... This article is about the medieval military order. ...

Roisia's Cross has led some experts to suggest a link with the Rosicrucians, whose central texts include a reference to a cave with a tomb therein. This has been fuelled by the fact that the marriage between Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth of Bohemia daughter of James I of England was negotiated in the town (James I had a palace just by the cross roads.) Frances Yates in her book The Rosicrucian Enlightenment has shown the importance of this marriage to the Rosicrucians, as Frederick V's claim to the throne of Bohemia plunged Germany into the Thirty Years' War. The Temple of the Rosy Cross, Teophilus Schweighardt Constantiens, 1618 The Rosicrucians are a legendary and secretive order dating from the 15th or 17th century, generally associated with the symbol of the Rose Cross, which is also used in certain rituals of the Freemasons. ... Frederick is also called the Winter King of Bohemia because he reigned for less than three winter months in 1620 after he was installed by a rebellious Protestant faction. ... Elisabeth, Electress Palatine and (briefly) queen of Bohemia (August 19, 1596 – February 13, 1662), born Princess Elizabeth Stuart of Scotland, was born as the eldest daughter to King James VI of Scotland and his Queen consort Anne of Denmark. ... James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland (Charles James) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. ... Dame Frances Amelia Yates (1899-1981) was a noted British historian. ... Bohemia. ... The Thirty Years War was fought between 1618 and 1648, principally on the territory of todays Germany, also involving most of the major European continental powers. ...

On August 22, 1992 the cave was used as the site for the reappearance of the London Psychogeographical Association after 35 years of occultation. August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... London Psychogeographical Association (LPA) is a fictional association created by absurdists. ... In this July, 1997 still frame captured from video, the bright star Aldebaran has just reappeared on the dark limb of the waning crescent moon in this predawn occultation. ...

The Nature Reserve of Therfield Heath occupies an impressive position overlooking the town from a hill to the south. Therfield Heath is a Nature Reserve on the chalk escarpment just north of Therfield, Hertfordshire. ...

Nearby villages

• Ashwell
• Barkway
• Barley
• Kelshall
• Nuthampstead
• Reed
• Therfield