Henry II created the liberty of Brickendon in about 1174/84 which granted the abbot freedom from certain taxes normally due to the crown.

The chapel, dedicated to the Holy Cross and St Alban, was built in 1932 on land and with funds donated by Constance Demain Saunders and her mother Minnie Kingsley.

Fanshaws mansion, built in 1885 by Henry Wilson Demain Saunders, is now the headquarters of the Institute of the Motor Industry.

The liberty of Brickendon was deemed to be part of the parish of All Saints, Hertford, but appointed its own overseers of the poor.

[7][8] On 1 April 1935 parts of Broxbourne, Hoddesdon Rural and Wormley were transferred to Brickendon Liberty when these parishes were abolished.