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Large Houses for Gentlemen in Cheshunt
Created 21 June, 2008
During the eighteenth century considerable building took place in the district, notably houses for gentlemen from the metropolis. This included a considerable amount of ribbon development on the old main road. Among the surviving examples of this period are Harold House in Waltham Cross High Street, 77 and 79 Crossbrook Street, Elm Arches in Turners Hill, and Hillview in Cheshunt High Street.
In 1750 William Shaw, who was lord of the manor of Andrews, rebuilt the Great House in eighteenth century style, encasing the older nucleus in brick and enlarging the mansion considerably. Much of this on the south side was demolished seventy years later, leaving one of the ugliest buildings in Cheshunt, which survived until a disastrous fire in 1965. From about 1820 until 1944 the Great House was not occupied by its owners, but only caretakers, and for most of the nineteenth century it was open to view. It is from this period that most of the stories of ghosts, tunnels, bloodstains and secret panels originate.
In 1763 the manor of Theobalds was acquired by Sir George Prescott, son of a merchant from Chester, and in that year he built the mansion known as Theobalds Park. He also acquired the manor of Cheshunt and the title Lord of the Manor remained with the Prescott family until 1955.
In 1820 he leased the property to Sir Henry Meux, a brewer, and on his death in 1860 his son Sir Henry Bruce Meux purchased the estates. His widow, Lady Valerie Susie, died in 1910 and left her possessions to Sir Hedworth Lambton, a young naval officer, on condition that he changed his name to Meux. He held the estates, worth nearly £1 m., until his death in 1929. As an Admiral of the Fleet he was buried with full naval honours in the cemetery extension near Barrow Lane, this being the first interment in the new burial ground.
You can find out more about the Great House and Theobalds Park in forthcoming features.