Broxbourne has given its name to the entire Borough, extending north from Wormley through to Hoddesdon. Most of the area is modern development although in the High Road are one or two houses dating from the seventeenth century. These include the Monson Almshouses built of red brick in 1728, 97-98 High Road part of which dates from the sixteenth century and the Priest's House which is from the seventeenth century.

The name Broxbourne is thought to derive from the Old English words brocc and burna meaning ‘Badger stream'. In the Domesday Book the name is given as Brochesborne. In the 2001 Census the population was 13,298.

The area around Broxbourne consists of thickly wooded heavy clay soils and a wet gravel flood plain. Because of this it appears that the area was not properly settled until mediæval times. In the twentieth century the area was exploited for its gravel and extraction continued until the pits were worked out in the late 1960s leaving a myriad of water filled holes. These water features became the basis for the Lea Valley Regional Park.

Cozens Lane East

A flat in Cozens Lane East became the site of various paranormal activities around June of 1989. The events started with light bulbs that would keep blowing and progressed through strange night time noises to knives being embedded in a wall. The latter was discovered one morning with the knives looking as if they had been thrown with considerable force.

Other strange occurrences included shampoo bottles that would be emptied on to the bathroom floor, a cup of tea that spun round sending tea everywhere (it was placed on a turntable at the time but it was turned off) and cat food that was found spread all over the kitchen. Shadows began to appear on the walls, the children's bedroom became icy cold and a toy began to move by itself. The eldest child in the house also reported seeing a strange man sitting on her bed.

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Paradise Park

In 2000 a keeper at the Paradise Wildlife Park had just finished closing up the Jungle Theatre when she saw a shadowy black figure slip inside. Wondering how he had entered through a locked door she went into the theatre to tell him it was closed. She soon caught up with the man and called out to him whereupon he turned round then disappeared through a solid wall. She described him as wearing long flowing robes with a lace neckpiece looking like an old fashioned pastor. It is said that part of the site, the birds of prey enclosure, was built over a plague pit so and that this might be the reason for the pastors' presence.

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