 It is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, when this area was part of St Albans Abbey's manor of Cashio.In the 12th century the Abbey was granted a charter allowing it to hold a market here, and the building of St Mary's Church began.The settlement's location helped it to grow, since as well as trade along this north-south through route it possessed good communications into the vale of St Albans to the east and into the Chiltern Hills along the valley of the River Chess to the west.