HertfordshireTompkins, Herbert W. (Herbert Winckworth)
History
Hertfordshire
Tompkins, Herbert W. (Herbert Winckworth)
Hertfordshire (England) -- Guidebooks
The church very probably dates from the end of the thirteenth century,
and is an E.E. flint structure. There are some old slabs in the chancel
to the Bellenden family, and one on the nave floor bearing an
inscription to one Thomas de Leukenor (?).
_Westmill Green_ is a hamlet 11/2 mile S.W. from Westmill Station, G.E.R.
WESTON, a large village 3 miles S.E. from Baldock, has an interesting,
restored church, dating from about 1200. It has a N. transept, in which
are two good Norman windows; a piscina, E.E., is in the nave. The
massive embattled tower, which carries an octagonal, N.E. turret, was
rebuilt in 1867. In the churchyard may be seen two small stones, about
four yards apart, which, according to local tradition, mark the grave of
the Weston giant. The church was once a property of the Knights
Templars. There is what seems a second village just where a narrow
footpath leads from the Lufen Hall Road to the church, which stands 1/2
mile E. from the long main street. Many folk may still be noticed
plaiting in the neighbourhood.
_Weston Dane End_ (11/2 mile S. from the above village) is a hamlet on
the road to Walkern.
_Westwick Row_ (2 miles S.E. from Hemel Hempstead) is a hamlet near
Leverstock Green, in a charming neighbourhood.
WHEATHAMPSTEAD lies in a hollow, in the valley of the Lea. Cyclists
approaching the village from St. Albans by way of Sandridge and No Man's
Land must beware of the steep descent from the Old Red Cow to the Swan
Inn. The place undoubtedly owes its name to the fine wheat grown in the
neighbourhood; it is very picturesque, particularly around the church
and vicarage, and by the waterside towards _Brocket Hall_.
The cruciform church, W. from the centre of the village, is E.E. and
Dec. with a few Perp. features. A doorway in the _Brocket Chapel_ is
supposed to be Saxon, but I cannot say whether the supposition is
correct; the chapel also contains an altar-tomb with effigies of Sir
John Brocket and his wife, Margaret, bearing date 1543, and a piscina in
the S. wall. A brass of much interest is that to Hugh Bostock and his
wife, Margaret (_circa_ 1450), showing their figures in robes. These
persons were the parents of John de Wheathampsted. (See St. Albans.) An
old marble tablet is to John Heyworth (d. 1558) and his wife Joan. Note
also the monumental effigies in N. transept to Sir John Garrard, Bart.
(d. 1637), and his wife Elizabeth (d. 1632). The _reredos_ is very fine.
Forty years ago the village was truly rural, but the rebuilding of the
old mill between the church and station (G.N.R. branch from Hatfield to
Dunstable) and the erection of several modern shops in the main street
has altered its appearance. _Wheathampstead House_, close to the
station, is the seat of Earl Cavan; _Lamer Park_, a little N., slopes
pleasantly towards the fine home of A. G. B. Cherry-Garrard, Esq.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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