BERKHAMPSTEAD (GREAT BERKHAMPSTEAD), urban dis trict, Hertfordshire, England, on the main line of the L.M.S.R., 28m. N.W. of London. Pop. (1931) 8,0J3. It lies in the narrow valley of the Bulbourne and is close to the Grand Junction canal. The name "Great Berkhampstead" is given to distinguish it from Little Berkhampstead near Hatfield in the same county.
Berkhampstead (Beorhhamstede, Berchehamstede) was un doubtedly of some importance in Saxon times since there were 52 burgesses there at the time of the Conquest. The town rose to importance with its castle, which is said to have been built by Robert, count of Mortain, and when the castle fell into ruin after 1496 the town also began to decay. In 1618, however, the bur gesses received an incorporation charter which was retained until the 18th century. Before the 13th century the burgesses held a weekly market on Sunday and a yearly fair on St. James's day, but in 1218 Henry 1I1. altered the market day to Monday. Roof ing tiles were manufactured as early as the 13th century, and in Elizabeth's reign the making of malt was the chief industry. The church of St. Peter is an early foundation built in mixed styles. The poet William Cowper was born in the rectory in 1731. The grammar school dates from 1S41. Of the castle some earthworks and wall-fragments remain. Straw-plaiting is the chief and oldest industry, and there are chemical works and some manufacture of small wooden wares. It is to soffie extent a residential outpost of London.