ties_, the _Durolitum_ of
Antoninus, is a large parish which contains much of interest. Its
ancient names, Cestre, Ceaster, Cestrehunt, leave little doubt that it
was a Roman station.[3] At Roman Urn Inn, near the station, G.E.R., is
an urn imbedded in the wall; it was discovered close by some years ago,
and is probably of Roman manufacture. Cheston, yet another old name of
this spot, has been thought to be derived from the chestnut trees once
plentiful in the neighbourhood, of which many of the houses were built.
William I. gave the manor to Alan the Red, Earl of Brittany, and it
remained an appendage to that earldom for a long time. Edward III.
granted a weekly market to be held in the town every Monday. The Church
of St. Mary the Virgin was built in 1420 by Nicholas Dixon, who held the
living of Cheshunt for thirty years. It is Perp., entirely embattled;
the W. tower has an octagonal cupola. Restoration was carefully effected
during 1872-4, under Mr. G. F. Bodley. The rood-screen, lectern and
pulpit are of carved oak, all comparatively new. The memorials are very
numerous; amongst them may be noted (1) brass on chancel floor to the
above-mentioned Nicholas Dixon (d. 1448); (2) brass to William Pyke (d.
1449); (3) two female effigies, 1500-20; (4) altar tomb in chancel to
Robert Dacres, Privy Councillor to Henry VIII. There are windows of
stained glass to a former vicar (d. 1858); to General Miles (d. 1860),
and, in the tower, to one Robert Archer, for thirty-six years parish
clerk. N. from the main street, near the river Lea, stood a small
Benedictine nunnery. It originally belonged to the Canons of Cathele,
but Henry III. turned them out and gave the property and rights to the
"Prioress and Nuns of Cesthont". The college, a famous institution,
stands near the church; it was founded in 1768 by Selina, Countess of
Huntingdon, at Trevecca, near Talgarth, S. Wales, and removed to
Cheshunt after her death. A few years ago it was bought by the Church of
England, for use as a theological college. Close by, too, is the site of
Pengelly House, once the home of Richard Cromwell. Cheshunt Park (1 mile
N.) is full of memories of the Cromwells and the Russells. The Great
House, near Church Gate, was one of the many residences of Cardinal
Wolsey. Both the house and the moat are still preserved.

[Footnote 3: Chauncy writes: "This Vill in old Records was called
Cestrehunt, from Castrum in the Latin, which might, in all Probability,