Situated south of Luton, the ancient hamlet and manor is linked through one of its principal properties, The Hyde to the question as to whether family gave its name to the place or the place to the family.

Baldwin de Bethune acquired the Manor of Luton in 1190 and records show that in 1197 he gave a half share in the moiety of a water mill at Hyde to Fulk de la Hyde, the other going to the Manor of FitzNeel.

(An unrelated Deed of Confirmation of Dispute around that time shows Fulk de la Hyde and John, son of Gilbert de la Hyde as witnesses).

It has been said that the name came from the de Hyde family who had settled at the time of the Norman Conquest.

In 1240 Lord Alan de Hyde and his wife Alice (Alicia) were admitted into the Priory of Dunstable in recognition of which they gave one virgate of land in Chalton, one in Leagrave, four shillings rent and a half mark rent in Stopsley and twenty marks and three shillings rent in Dunstable. Reference is made at that time to the Chapel at Hyde, which by virtue of a discovery much later of some timbers and Totternhoe stone blocks was believed to have been situated in Bramagar Wood. (This lead to speculation that the house at that time may have been nearer to the site of the present farmhouse).

The interlacing of place and family names is illustrated in a court roll extract:

Manor of Luton     

View of frankpledge with court held on Thursday in the week of Pentecost 3 Edward VI [1549]

presentment                                                                                                           The jury present that Michael Thrale who held from the lord freely by charter a messuage at Thrales end 67 acres and a close called Frebernes once lying in two closes containing in all by estimation 12 acres of land by the rent of 5s 6d per annum, and that the aforesaid Michael sold and alienated since the last court to John Kilby the aforesaid messuage and 55 acres land parcel of the premises aforesaid, to hold from the lord with the agreement of the lord by a rent of 3s 4d p.a., and to a certain Richard 20 acres parcel of the aforesaid premises to hold from the lord with the agreement of the lord by an annual rent of 20d and further to a certain Thomas Daye one acre of meadow and one acre of land in Hydefeilde parcel of the aforesaid premises to be held from the lord with the agreement of the lord by the annual rent of 4d,
and the aforesaid Michael holds from the lord the aforesaid close residue of the aforesaid premises with the agreement of the lord at a rent of 2d

fealty                                                                                                                          and further the said John Richard Thomas and Michael did fealty and were admitted tenants and all four tenants agreed that the premisses are true.

(For further aspects of names, see – What’s in a name?)

The eccentric boundaries of Counties and Parishes evoked comment even centuries ago, determined as they have been by physical elements of which some, like water courses, have changed radically over the years, land ownership also much changed, church administration, similarly and administrative expedience.

Ownership of the Manor of Luton by those whose family seat was Luton Hoo clearly tied the hamlets to Luton. The Lord of the Manor would require appropriate facilities in a suitable place of worship and what could be more fitting than the Luton Parish Church of St Mary, a short carriage ride from Luton Hoo Park along the road inevitably called Park Road (now Park Street). What matter that ordinary folk living in the south of Hyde and having to walk more than three miles each way would have preferred to have joined a Harpenden Parish?

It could have been so different as the Abbey of St Albans did acquire land in the area, not related to its local administrative responsibilities, at various times. (See later reference under The Mills to 1461 acquisition by Abbot John de Wheathampsted, who is interestingly recorded in some accounts as John de Hyde).

The boundaries of parishes ecclesiastical and civil have not always coincided, though occasional realignments have made this so sometimes. This curiosity has caused parishes (ecclesiastical) on occasions to be in two counties.

This confusion is compounded further by 19th Century organisations such as the Luton Poor Law Union and Luton Registrar District, both of which specifically included Caddington in Bedfordshire and Caddington in Hertfordshire.

From before the time of the Domesday Book there were administrative areas, forerunners one may imagine to Districts, called Hundreds. (See What’s in a Name ?) Hyde fell within Flitt Hundred, which in the 19th Century comprised of – Barton in the Clay, Caddington, Clophill, Flitton cum Silsoe, Upper Gravenhurst, Lower Gravenhurst, Haynes, Higham Gobion, Pulloxhill, Streatley with Sharpenhoe and Sundon (that had been recorded as constituents in 1316) together with Luton with East and West Hyde, Stopsley, Limbury cum Biscott, and Leagrave.              [Spellings vary!]

Luton became a Municipal Borough, incorporating its adjacent hamlets including East and West Hyde, from its Charter of 26th February, 1876. The Township gained the area of West Hyde known as Park Town and a detached part of the hamlet of Limbury close to the Church of St Mary, Luton.

Five hamlets became separate parishes, with East and West Hyde as Hyde Parish, within Luton Rural District in 1895.

For administrative purposes some small areas of border parishes were exchanged under the Counties of Bedford and Hertford (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1906.

The "1895" Parishes were made a part of Luton Borough again under a 1928 Order.

Hyde Parish was segregated again when Luton became a County Borough in 1964, losing 200 acres to the Borough in the process.