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Waftord in Hertford County England History and GeographyWAFTORD, a parish in the hundred of CASHIO, or liberty of St. ALABANS, county of HERTFORD, comprising the market town of Watford, and the hamlets of Cashio, Levesden, and Oxhey, and containing 4713 inhabitants, of which number, 2960 are in the town of Watford, 20 miles (W.S.W.) from Hertford, and 15 (N.W.) from London. This town, situated on the river Colne, derives its name from the Watling-street, which passes in the vicinity, and from a ford over the river, to which latter its origin also is attributed: it consists of one principal street, about a mile in length, is well built, paved, and supplied with water by a forcing pump, erected by subscription. By means of the Grand Junction canal, which passes a mile to the westward, a communication is maintained with the metropolis and the northern part of the kingdom. The manufacture of straw-plat, and three silk-throwsting mills, employ a considerable number of persons; there are likewise eight malt-kilns, and two extensive breweries. The market, granted by Henry I., is held on Tuesday: the market-house is an indifferent building supported on wooden pillars, with granaries over it, and its situation is very confined. Fairs are on the Tuesday after Whit-Tuesday, and on August 29th and 30th, for cattle and pedlary; the latter, originally granted by Edward IV., in 1469, had fallen into disuse, but was revived in 1827; there is also a statute fair for hiring servants in September. A meeting of magistrates is held every Tuesday, and there is a weekly court of requests, for the recovery of debts under 40s., the jurisdiction of which is co-extensive with the liberty of St. Albans; this court is constituted of commissioners, whose qualification to act is the possession of £800 real or personal property. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of St. Albans, and diocese of London, rated in the king's books at £21. 12. 1., and in the patronage of the Earl of Essex. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, and situated in the centre of the street, on the south side of the town, has two chapels annexed, and a tower at the west end. There are places of worship for Baptists, those in the Connexion of the late Countess of Huntingdon, and Wesleyan Methodists. The free school, founded by Elizabeth Fuller, in 1704, is a handsome structure, at the south-west corner of the churchyard, with a residence for the master and mistress; it was endowed with a rent-charge of £52, imposed on lands in the parishes of Watford and Sarratt, in this county, and at Creek in Northamptonshire, to which an augmentation of £1000 was made by C. Deane, Esq., other benefactors having contributed about £2000 more: fifty boys and thirty girls are taught gratuitously. A parochial free school was founded and endowed by Francis Coombes, in 1641, in which twelve boys are instructed. There are also two small bequests for Sunday schools. A National school is chicfly supported by the Earl of Essex. Almshouses for four poor widows were founded by Sir Christopher Morrison and Sir B. Hicks; and some for eight poor widows were founded and endowed by Francis, Earl of Bedford, and his Countess, in 1580. Dame Morrison bequeathed £50 per annum, and Sarah Eure gave the sum of £200, for apprenticing poor children; and numerous other sums have been left for charitable uses. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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