Imagine a magnificent 700-acre park; an historic pleasure ground four-and-a-half miles in circumference with attractive manned lodges at each of several entrances.
In the park are numerous other firs and cedars, as well as pyramidal-shaped oaks, limes, beech and chestnuts, all of uniform heights. The fruit trees include black cherry, some 80-feet in height. Queen Elizabeth I planted a tree in the Home Park in the late 16th century, no doubt also seeing the owner, Robert Devereux, the 2nd Earl of Essex, her staunch favourite.
There are long walks under hornbeam arbours intertwined with ivy, a secluded dell, fountains, ponds filled with goldfish and stone busts. A herd of cattle grazes in the lush pastures and deer are within sight. This is where Red Bengal deer were first acclimatised in this country. When Daniel Defoe visited the park in the 1770s, he declared it ‘One of the finest places near London.’
I’ve focused on the park in the later 1880s when Watford’s population was around 16,000 and Henry Williams wrote his enticing descriptions. In his time, the public enjoyed promenades in the grounds, particularly on Sundays, courtesy of Arthur Capell, 6th Earl of Essex. The Volunteers and Herts Yeomanry drilled here, local gentry were permitted to ride or drive carriages through the park and woods and, in summer, groups of London workmen and children visited on day excursions.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
EastEnders London Marathon episode filmed in Cassiobury ParkScenes for the London Marathon episode of the BBC soap Eastenders was filmed in Cassiobury Park, new photos have revealed.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »
Beautiful photos of Cassiobury Park, Abbots Langley and JerusalemLight-themed pictures featuring Cassiobury Park, Stockers Lane, Abbots Langley and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »
Scenic photos featuring Cassiobury Park and Whippendell WoodNine light-inspired pictures taken by Watford Observer Camera Club members featuring Cassiobury Park and Whippendell Wood.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »
Cassiobury Junior School full Ofsted report releasedCassiobury Junior School had its latest Ofsted report released following inspections earlier this year.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »
Cassiobury Junior School in Watford rated 'good' by OfstedThe Cassiobury Junior School in Watford is “really pleased” after it was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »
Watford Sunday League: Evergreen and Cassiobury Rangers winEvergreen boosted their hopes of finishing second behind probable Watford Sunday League champions North Watford by beating Glenn SSC.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »