BROADWATER HUNDRED 



and pendants, which are modern. The walls, of 

 which the lower part is panelled, are covered with 

 portraits. 



The Abbots of Ely claimed in Hatfield the com- 

 prehensive franchises granted to them by successive 

 royal charters. These included exemption from suit 

 at the shire and hundred courts, and freedom for the 

 abbot's men from toll throughout England."" 



In 1251 a grant of free warren was obtained from 

 Henry III." In 1534 the freedom of the bishop's 

 men from tolls in all markets and fairs in England 

 was again claimed andconfirmed. M A fair was granted 

 to the Bishop of Ely in Hatfield in 1 226. It was to be 

 held annually for four days, on the vigil and feast of St. 

 John the Baptist and two days following (a 3-6 June). 6i 

 In 1318 the date was changed to the vigil and feast 

 of St. Etheldreda the Virgin and two days following M 

 (16-19 October). In 1466 it was restricted to three 

 days, the vigil, feast and morrow of St. Etheldreda." 

 In 1538 the fairs were held on the feasts of St. Luke 

 the Evangelist (18 October) and St. George 

 (23 April), 68 but there is no charter recording the 

 alteration until the manor was granted to the 

 Earl of Warwick in 1550. The right to hold a 

 court of pie powder is mentioned in this grant. M 

 The two fairs are still held ; that on 1 8 October 

 is for toys.' 



The right of holding a weekly market on Thursday 

 was granted to the bishop in 1226." The day was 

 altered to Tuesday in 1 3 1 8/* and to Wednesday in 

 1+66," but before 1538 was changed back to 

 Thursday," and was confirmed on that day in 1 5 50." 

 A market was held in 1792, but was discontinued 

 before 1888." 



Hatfield possessed four mills in 1086," of which 

 three survive, all on the River Lea : Lemsford Mills 

 at the southern extremity of Brockett Park, Cecil 

 Mill at the north-eastern corner of the Home Park, 

 and the third, which gives its name to Mill Green, a 

 little north of the park. In 1277 the bishop had 

 two mills 'under one roof." » 



The free fishery of the bishop in the River Lea 

 extended in 1277 from Hatfield Mills, which would 

 probably be Cecil Mill, to the bridge of Stanberue 

 (Stanborough), and from there to the mill of Simon 

 Fitz Adam (Lemsford Mill), where the latter had 

 joint rights of fishery with the bishop. Beyond this 

 the bishop's right extended to Stonenbrig" (later 

 Stoken Bridge). 50 The same extent of fishery is 

 mentioned in 1538. Bl 



In 1391 the Bishop of Lincoln granted to the 

 Bishop of Ely licence to confirm, elect and celebrate 

 orders, prove wills and consecrate oil in his manor of 

 Hatfield." 



In the account of the manor of Hatfield given in 



HATFIELD or 

 BISHOP'S HATFIELD 



the Domesday Survey there is no mention of parks, but 

 the domain is said to posses woodi sufficient to feed 

 2,000 swine, 81 which indicates a large area of forest. 

 In fact, the manor was given to the monks of Ely by 

 King Edgar in order that they might have wood for 

 their building." In the 13th century at least two 

 parks had already been inclosed. The Great Park, or 

 Hatfield Wood, had an area of about 1,000 acres, 

 and provided pasture for the horses and cattle and 

 pannage for the swine of the tenants in chief of the 

 bishop, all of whom had rights of common and 

 'woderight' in it in jzjj.^ In 1538 all free- 

 holders and copyholders holding within' Bukamwyke- 

 hide ' had rights of common feeding in it. Lanes and 

 highways passing through it were common to all 

 inhabitants of the lordship indifferently." It was in 

 the custody of a bailiff in the 14th century, 8 ' who 

 later became keeper or master of the game. This 

 office was held in 1538 and later by Sir Anthony 

 Denny, the king's servant. 88 At this time the Great 

 Park contained 10,000 oaks and beeches, valued at 

 %d. each. 8 * It seems to have extended over the south- 

 eastern projection of the parish, which lies between 

 Essendon and Northaw, and probably stretched from 

 Woodside eastward to the hamlet of Newgate Street, 

 for in the reign of Henry VIII a house was pur- 

 chased there to form one of it* lodges.* At this 

 time it had a circuit of 7 miles, and extended from 

 'a place called Fisshes Grove to Hansmeregate.' 

 There were within it eighteen deer of antlers and 

 sixty-two raskells. 91 The breed of deer kept there 

 was evidently a good one, for in 1621 the king 

 requested the Earl of Salisbury to spare him a brace 

 of bucks from his park to bestow on the men 

 of Northaw, his own stock of deer being 'much 

 wasted.' M 



The Middle Park had an extent of 350 acres, 

 and in 1 277 was stated to be the private property of 

 the lord of the manor, the tenants having no rights 

 in it. M In 1538 it contained 2,000 oaks and 

 beeches. The pasture was scant but sufficient for the 

 deer, of which there were seventy- three raskells and 

 seven deer of antlers. At that date it is recorded 

 that the little lodge was not thoroughly repaired, 31 

 and about this time payments are recorded for build- 

 ing a new house there, with a frame-house and new 

 kitchen." 



It was probably this park which in 1252 was the 

 scene of an outrage by William de Valence/after- 

 wards lord of the manor of Gacelyns. It is re- 

 counted by Matthew Paris that William came from 

 his castle of Hertford and violently and against the 

 decree of the king entered the park of the Bishop of 

 Ely near his manor of Hatfield and hunted therein 

 without the licence of anyone, and afterwards he 

 went to the bishop's house, and because they would 



