Hitchin.-- market town and par. with ry. sta., Herts, on river Hiz, 32 miles N. of London--par., 6420c., pop. 9070; town, pop. 8434; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks, 3 newspapers. Market-day, Tuesday. Hitchen is a large and ancient town, pleasantly situated in a fertile valley; it is well built, and consists for the most part of spacious streets. The principal object of interest is St Mary's Church. The town has trade in corn, flour, and malt; there are several large malting-houses and a brewery. Straw-plaiting is a prominent industry, also the growing of lavender; in vicinity of town is the seat of Hitchin Priory.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))