Royston

Royston grew at the crossing of two ancient roads, Ermine Street and the Icknield Way. An Augustinian priory stood beside the settlement until the dissolution of the monasteries, and its church survived to serve the town. Beneath the old crossroads lies a remarkable underground artificial chamber cut into the chalk, its walls carved with religious figures and images of saints.

James I stopped at Royston on his journey to claim the English throne in 1603. The king enjoyed hunting on the nearby heath and established a residence in the town, returning repeatedly during his reign to pursue the sport. In 1742 workmen rediscovered the underground chamber now known as Royston Cave; the origins and purpose of its carvings have long been debated.