a town of Hartfordshire in England, stands among hills, upon a small river called the Gade, and is seven miles to the west of St Alban's, five miles south-east of Berkhamsted, and 20 north-west of London. The church has a handsome tower with a tall spire, and a good ring of bells. It was, in the time of the Saxons, called by the name of Henamsted, or Hean-Hemsted, i.e. High-Hemstead. In William the Conqueror's time, by the name of Hemelamiteide. Henry VIII. incorporated this village by the name of a bailiff; and he empowered the inhabitants 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, 20,000l. a week being often returned in it only for meal. Eleven pair of mills stand within four miles of the place, which bring a great trade to it; but the road is thereby so continually torn, that it is one of the worst turnpike ways to London.