Note 52 — ITER ROMANUM. V.
Reading edition
The Roman station between London and Hertford (I suppose they had one every ten miles, if conveniently it could be) was probably at Cheshunt, anciently
Cestrehunt
; and it is likely there was a fortification there. Wadesmill retains the name of
Vadum
.
It is very easy to discern where the old Roman road becomes the present road northward, by the alteration of its direction, near a little rill between Wadesmill and Ware. Wadesmill was a Roman ford, vadum, wath; whence its name: and from hence the Roman road is the common one, or post road, to Chesterton, or Durobrivæ, upon the river Nen.
K. Edward senior, in 909, the 9th year of his reign, built a castle there, says H. Hunt; where it is printed Herefordiam instead of Hertfordiam. Castrum non immensum, sed pulcherrimum, inter Beneficiam (the Bean) & Mimera & Luge flumina, &c.
Cestrehunt, Cheshunt, is via ad castrum. Huynt, hynt, is in Welsh a gang, or road, a by-road, short road.