it joins--to the parting of
the ways at Langleybury Church (4 miles N.W. from Watford Old Church).
It is crossed from N. to S. by the river Gade. The present mansion dates
from 1800; it was built by Wyatt for the fifth Earl of Essex. Disposed
around an open courtyard, its many handsome apartments make a noble
appearance; what was formerly part of the N. wing of the old mansion
built by Sir Richard Morrison and his son Charles in the sixteenth
century is still retained, although that house was largely rebuilt by
the first earl, from designs furnished by Hugh May. There is a fine
library, and three smaller ones, the collection of books being very
valuable; but in the estimation of many the pictures are still more so.
Among them may be named: (1) Arthur Lord Capel and his family, C.
Janssens; this was the Capel who defended Colchester and was beheaded in
1649; (2) Charles II., by Lely; (3) fifth Earl of Essex as a boy with
his sister, by Reynolds, in frame carved by Grinling Gibbons; (4)
Countess of Ranelagh, full length, by Kneller; (5) portrait by Rubens,
probably of Charlotte de la Tremouille, afterwards Countess of Derby;
(6) "Moll Davis" (actress), by Lely. There are many others, especially
further portraits of the Capel family. The park and grounds are
beautifully laid out. The park is open to the public; but the house is
shown only by special request.

WATTON or WATTON AT STONE is a large village on the Hertford-Stevenage
road and the river Beane, 31/2 miles S.E. from Knebworth Station, G.N.R.
Its position is very central, the roads from Ware, Hertford, Great and
Little Munden, Walkern, Stevenage, Welwyn and Tewin all converging
within the area of the main street. The church, at the S. end of the
village, is Perp.; it was entirely restored in 1851. Note (1) piscina
and triple sedilia in chancel; (2) doors formerly leading to rood loft;
(3) curious tombstone, E.E., in the churchyard; (4) E. window of stained
glass, dating from the Restoration; (5) memorial window in the S. aisle
to Lady Catherine Barrington. The brasses are unusually old and
interesting, _e.g._, (1) with canopied effigy, to Sir Philip Peletot (d.
1361); (2) to Sir E. Bardolf (d. 1455); the effigy is that of his wife,
his own having been long missing; (3) to John Boteler (Butler) and
family (1514). The Boteler family, to whom there are many other
memorials in the church, lived for many generations in the manor house
of Woodhall, burnt in 1771. The ho