HEMPSTEAD, a town of Hertfordshire in Eng-
land, in a hilly country, upon a small river called the
Gade, and 20 miles north-west of London. It was, in
the time of the Saxons, called by the name of Henam-
sted, or Hean-Hemsted, i. e. High-Hemstead. In
William the Conqueror's time, by the name of Heme-
lamsted. Henry VIII. incorporated this village by
the name of a bailiff; and he empowered the inhabi-
tants to have a common seal, and a pye-powder court
during its market and fairs. It has been reckoned one
of the greatest markets for wheat in this county, if not
in England, 20,000 a-week being often returned in it
only for meal. Eleven pair of mills stand within four
miles of the place, which produce a great trade.