BROADWATER HUNDRED 



panelling. The spandrels of the arches and the 

 mouldings are carved. Above is the cornice which 

 formerly supported the front of the gallery. It 

 projects about z ft. On the frieze is a row of small 

 squares and circles alternating, with leaves carved in 

 them. There are carved consoles at intervals along 

 the cornice. On the small brackets carrying the outer 

 ends of the arches thistles are carved. The hall is a 

 large apartment 47 ft. by zi ft. It has windows on 

 each side and is flat ceiled with plaster. There is a 

 large fireplace 6 ft. wide with splayed three-centred 

 arch on the west side near the screen. Over the fire- 

 place a carved stone shield has been inserted, bearing 



LETCHWORTH 



crowned by a cornice. All the work is elaborately 

 carved. The upper floor of the main building, 

 including over the hall, is subdivided inio a number 

 of rooms, most of them small, and containing little 

 of interest. There is a fine fireplace, however, over 

 that in the dining room, but owing to the formation 

 of new rooms it is now in a passage. The lower 

 part is of clunch, having a four-centred arch with 

 mouldings similar to that in the dining room ; on 

 either side are half female figures undraped, on carved 

 pedestals, supporting the projecting portion of the 



which has a moulded c. 

 moulded archit. 



vith d< 



;ed fi 



.til 



the arms of Alington, which are Sable a bend engrailed 

 between six billets argent. On the other side there 

 is a brick seat along part of the wall, which, how- 

 ever, appears to be modern. The floor is paved 

 with modern bricks. At the north end of the hall 

 is the modern entrance to the additions of last 

 century. The dining room, about 37 ft. by 16 ft., 

 extends to the west of the hall. The old doorway, 

 now built up, still remains. A modern doorway has 

 been opened into the dining room, which contains 

 a good stone fireplace and carved oak chimneypiece. 

 The fireplace is of the usual early 17th-century type 

 with four-centred arch with the outer moulding 

 carried square above it. The overmantel is carried 

 up to the ceiling, and is divided into two panelled 

 compartments flanked by human demi-figures and 



with consoles at intervals. All this work appears to 

 be Jacobean, but above it is a large panel reaching to 

 the ceiling containing four figures in high relief, 

 representing the Judgment of Paris, which is probably 

 of late 17th-century date. It is executed in plaster 

 and the figures are only slightly draped. Paris stands 

 in the centre offering the apple to Venus, who has a 

 Cupid clinging to her knees ; beside her are Juno with 

 a peacock at her feet and Minerva with a helmet. 



North of the church is a timber-framed house now 

 divided into cottages ; it is of early 1 7th-century date 

 with a projecting porch. The post-office is a house of 

 the same age and style of construction, now L-shaped, 

 a south wing having apparently been removed. 



Little Rustling End Farm, a mile and a half west 

 of Knebworth Church and now in that parish, is a 



