The old town dates back to Saxon times, with Georgian houses and former coaching inns. Charles Dickens visited The Eight Bells and later featured it in ´Oliver Twist´. During the 1930s, Hatfield´s growth was linked to the aviation industry, with both the Mosquito and Trident built here. In 1948, the ´new town´ of Hatfield was established. Market days take place on Wednesday and Saturday and there is a farmers' market on the first Saturday of every month.