Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-mnklg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-12T10:57:19.693Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

III.—The Building of Theobalds, 1564–15851

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2011

Get access

Extract

Sir Willam Celcil bought the manor of Theobalds in 1564 and we are told that he did so in order to provide an estate for his younger son, Robert, who had been born probably in the previous year. There will have been other considerations and Cecil's choice of situation is interesting. Theobalds lies just off the main road from London to Ware, the road he would take on his journeys to and from his principal seat at Stamford. It lies, moreover, in a neighbourhood studded with royal houses–Enfield (3 m.), Hertford Castle (8 m.), Hatfield (9¼ m.), and Havering-at-Bower (10¾ m.). In addition, Cecil's old friend Sir Thomas Smith was established at Hill Hall, Theydon Mount (7½ m.), and his father-in-law, Anthony Cooke, at Gidea Hall (12 m.). Finally, at Gorhambury (15 m.), his brother-in-law Sir Nicholas Bacon had started building operations in March 1563. It may or may not have been chance that Sir Thomas Heneage obtained the reversion of Copthal 15(6 m.) and began building there in the same year that Cecil acquired Theobalds.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1959

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable