104 J. E. HA.ETING HERTFOBDSHIEE DEEE-PARKS. 



Copeland, are usually allowed to grow to the age of twelve or 

 iourteen years before they are killed. 



8. WooDHAXL Paek,* Hertford, the seat of Abel Smith, Esq., 

 ]\I.P., is believed to have been so called from the great abundance 

 of wood and timber that grew there. It is referred to by Chauncy 

 (pp. 3b, 330«) as Watton Woodhall Park, the ancient seat of the 

 Botelers, and is thus described by Salmon f : — " The Mansion House 

 of the Family is most nobly situated upon a rising Ground, watered 

 with small Streams, which fall into the £ean on the South of it. 

 It stands in a Park beautifully consisting of Hills and Plats, and 

 renowned for as good Timber as the Island, or perhaps the Earth, 

 produceth. Near 30 Years since [i.e. about 1700] one Tree was 

 sold for £43. There were 18 Horses to draw one Part of it when 

 it was slit, and out of it was made the Cutwater of the Royal 

 Sovereign. Another in the same Park called the Walking Stick, 

 might some Years ago have been sold for 50 Guineas, but is at 

 present upon the Decay by the Burrowing of Rabbets under it." 

 Amongst notable trees here at the present time are a number of 

 hornbeams, planted originally as food for the deer, which have to 

 be constantly pollarded, the heads being too heavy for the stems. 

 The present park consists of 400 acres supporting about 300 deer. 

 The bucks in this park are killed at seven years old, a certain 

 number of fawns being marked every year and the rest killed. 

 The bucks average from 100 lbs. to 125 lbs. in weight, the does 

 from 60 lbs. to 65 lbs. 



9. RiCKMANSwoRTH Paek,]: the seat of John "William Birch, Esq., 

 extending over two huncbed acres, ornamented with chestnut, lime, 

 and beech trees, contains about 50 head of fallow-deer. The bucks 

 in this park average 16 stones, and the does 7 stones in weight. 



10. Ptjtteidge Paek, near Lilley, on the borders of Bedfordshire, 

 the seat of Lieut. -Col. G. Sowerby, who is lord of the manor, 

 contains about 450 acres, and is well stocked with deer. 



Of the parks which once existed in Hertfordshire but do so no 

 longer, the most important perhaps is 



Theobalds, § lying to the N.E. of Enfield Chace. It was the 

 favourite hunting-seat of James the First, who stayed here on his 

 way from Scotland to London, and was nobly entertained by Sir 

 Robert Cecil (afterwards Earl of Salisbury). So pleased was the King 

 with this place that he gave Sir Robert Cecil Hatfield in exchange 

 for it. He then enlarged the park || and inclosed it with a brick 

 wall ten miles in circumference. Here he kept not only red- deer 

 and fallow-deer, but also elk, which were presented to him in 1612 

 by the Marquis of Brandenburgh.^ They were still there in 1624. 



* Saxton, S.C. ; Chauncy, p. 308; Salmon, p. 211; Clutterbuck, vol. ii. 

 p. 472 ; Cussans, ' Broadwater,' p. 168. 



t 'Hist. Hertfordshire,' 1728, p. 218. 



X Chauncy, p. 478 ; Salmon, p. 109 ; Cussans, ' Cassio,' p. 145. 



§ Saxton, S.E. "Thehall"; Chauncy, p. 297; Salmon, p. 10; Clutterbuck, 

 vol. ii, p. 87 ; Cussans, 'Hertford,' p. 209. 



II For the purposes of this enlargement land was acquired in 1607 and again ill 

 1615. % 'Pell Eecords,' pp. 63, 149, 176, 294. 



