town (parish), East Hertfordshire district, administrative and historic county of Hertfordshire, England. It lies along the River Stort on the northeast periphery of the metropolitan complex centred on London. In Norman times the manor was held by the bishop of London. The town developed only after the opening of the Stort Navigation in 1769, when it became a malting centre and grain depot. The town is largely residential, with a variety of schools and colleges. Cecil Rhodes was born at Netteswell House, now a memorial museum. Pop. (2001) 35,325.