BENNINGTON, a village and a parish in the district and county of Hertford. The village stands near the river Beane, and near a branch Roman way, 5 miles ESE of Stevenage, and 6 from Stevenage r. station. It has a post office under Stevenage; and was formerly a market-town; and has still a fair on 10 July. The parish comprises 2,908 acres. Real property, £4,784. Pop., 637. Houses, 133. The property is divided among a few. The manor belonged to the Benstedes, the Cæsars, and the Earl of Essex; and belongs now to the Proctors. An ancient palace of the kings of Mercia stood here; and either that, or a castle which succeeded it, is now indicated by an intrenched eminence. Bennington Place, to the east, is a fine seat. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £635.* Patron, the Rev. J. E. Pryor. The church contains some ancient monuments, and is good. There are a Wesleyan chapel and a national school.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))