How Hemel are you?
The settlement was first called Henamsted or Hean-Hempsted (High Hempstead) in Anglo-Saxon times. The town is now known to residents as "Hemel", although before WWII locals called it "Hempstead".
The grand design for Hemel / Hempstead / Newtown saw each new district centred around a parade or square of shops. Other districts existed before the newtown as suburbs, villages and industrial centres and were incorporated into the town. A little history for you.