Royston, market town and par. with ry. sta., partly in Cambridgeshire, but chiefly in Herts, 12½ miles NE. of Hitchin, 315 ac., pop. 1712; P.O., T.O, 2 Banks, 1 newspaper. Market-day, Wednesday. Royston had an Augustinian priory, founded in time of Henry II., and a royal hunting seat, built by James I. The church is the old church of the priory. There is considerable trade in malt and corn; 4 fairs are held yearly. Royston gives the title of viscount to the Earl of Hardwicke.

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