Bishop's Stortford
| Bishop's Stortford | |
|---|---|
Looking down Windhill towards the town centre | |
Bishop's Stortford Location within Hertfordshire | |
| Population | 40,955 (Parish, 2021) 40,915 (Built up area, 2021) |
| OS grid reference | TL495215 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BISHOP'S STORTFORD |
| Postcode district | CM22, CM23 |
| Dialling code | 01279 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Bishop's Stortford is a market town and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England. It lies 11 miles (18 km) east-north-east of the county town of Hertford and 28 miles (45 km) north-north-east of Charing Cross in central London. The town adjoins the border with Essex. The M11 motorway passes to the east of the town, and Stansted Airport lies immediately east of the motorway. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 40,955 and the built up area had a population of 40,915.
The town grew up around a ford on the River Stort. Shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the manor of Stortford was bought by the Bishop of London. Around the same time, Waytemore Castle was built beside the ford. The castle's motte still stands in what is now Castle Park on the edge of the town centre. Bishop's Stortford has been a market town since medieval times.
Bishop's Stortford railway station is on the West Anglia Main Line from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge and Stansted Airport.