BERIKIIAM'STEAD, GREAT, or BERKIIAMSTEAD ST. PETER'S, fl market t. of Hertford shire, England. situated in a deep valley, on the right bank of the small river Balboni, on the Grand Junction canal and the tondon and North-western railway, 28 in. n.w, from London. The main street is about 1 m. in length. The town is well built, mostly of brick. The parish church. a cruciform building in the center of the town, is chiefly in the perpendicular style. The father of the poet Cowper was rector of 13., and the poet himself was born here. The town is supposed to be of Saxon origin, and the kings of Mercia had a palace or castle here. William the conqueror met the nobles and pre lates at B., and took an oath to rule according to the ancient laws and customs of the country. He bestowed the castle and manor of B. on his half-brother, the earl of Moreton. The castle was rebuilt in the reign of king John. The property having
reverted to the crown, was bestowed by Edward III. on his son, the Black Prince, when he created him duke of Cornwall, and has since been held by the princes of Wales as dukes of Cornwall. A few massive fragments of the wall of the castle, still remain, to the e. of the town. A free grammar-school was founded in the reign • of Edward III., sad still subsists, having been lately much enlarged and enriched by the establishment of several exhibitions. A charity•school was founded'under the will of Thomas Bourne in 1727. Straw-plaiting is carried on to a considerable extent in B., and a vast number of wooden articles are made, as bowls, cricket-bats, hoops, toys, etc. There are exten; sive chemical works, and a considerable trade in timber, malt, and coals. There is a Iveckly corn-market. Pop. '71, 40S3.