Baldock in 1838
Baldock is in the hundred of Broadwater, 37 miles from London, on the great North-road. The parish contains only 200 acres ; the town occupies a low situation, surrounded on all sides by an open chalky country. It is said to have been built by the Knights Templars before the time of Henry III. The church is a large and handsome Gothic edifice, with a square embattled tower at its west end. There is a range of six almshouses in the High-street. The population of Baldock in 1831 was 1,704, about one-fifth agricultural. A considerable trade is carried on in malt, the barley of the surrounding district being of excellent quality. The market is on Thursday: there are five fairs in the year. The living is a rectory of the yearly value of £126, in the deanery of Baldock, the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, and diocese of Lincoln. There are places of worship for Methodists and Independents.
There were in 1833 nine day or boarding and day schools, with 277 children ; and three Sunday schools, with 361 children ; a school-room was then building for a national school, to contain 200 children.
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