Watton Church
Kelly's Directory lists Charles Edward Hide as grocer and post office in 1922 but in 1926 Albert George Inman was listed as sub-postmaster and there is no Hide entry. This suggests the card is earlier than 1926 |
The Church at Watton stands on an eminence on the left-hand side of the high road, and is a handsome and imposing structure, dedicated to St Mary and St Andrew; it was entirely rebuilt, except the tower, a few years since, by the late Abel Smith, Esq., at a cost of about £7,000, and contains many memorials of the Boteler, Rumbold, and Smith families, and other former occupants of Woodhall and residents of the parish. An interesting brass is mentioned by Boutell, in his work on monumental brasses, as existing in this church; it is 4ft. 10in. high, in the pavement of the chancel; the figure is habited in a cope, and is of the date of about 1365. Weever records an inscription in Watton Church to the memory of Si Philip Boteler, which is not now to be seen; but on the wall there is a handsome monument to Philip Boteler, Esq., and Elizabeth his wife. There are also brasses to the memory of Edward Bardolf, knight, and his son and wife, who formerly resided in a Mansion pulled down long ago, but the name of which is perpetuated in that of a large Farm-house near the village. The interior of Watton Church is kept in excellent order, and under the floor are extensive family vaults. In the tower is a ring of six bells. The living is of the value of £700 per annum, with a handsome residence, in the patronage of Abel Smith, Esq. M.P. The Register dates from 1620.
Watton, High Street & Post Office
Posted 1926
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The Bull, in the High Street, is listed and pictured (above) in Hertfordshire Inns.
There is an excellent picture web site for Watton
Woodhall, Watton Photo A. F. Bishop Posted 1915
The House is now the home of Heath Mount School. |
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Abel Henry Smith esq. M.A., J.P. is lord of the manor and principal landowner; his seat, Woodhall Park, is finely divided by hill and dale and watered by several small tributaries of the river Beane, which flows through the park; the mansion was built in 1777 by Sir Thomas Rumbold bart, M.P. and was enlarged by Paul Benfield esq. and stands in a park of 450 acres stocked with deer; the woods are extensive and the timber fine. Kelly's Directory, 1912 |
If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.
October 2011 | page reformatted with new pictures and links | |