“What secrets do these grounds hold?” I ask, gesturing towards Cassiobury Estate. Cassiobury Estate, a suburban residential area in Watford, has a rich history. Once the ancestral seat of the Earls of Essex, it has transformed over centuries.
The name Cassiobury might come from a pre-Roman tribe or an Anglo-Saxon man named Caeg. In 1086, the manor of Cassio was owned by St Albans Abbey. Henry VIII granted it to Richard Morison in 1546.
Morison began building a house. His son Charles completed it. Elizabeth Morison married Arthur, Lord Capel of Hadham, in 1628. The estate remained in the Capel family until 1922.
Arthur’s son, also named Arthur, became the Earl of Essex in 1661. He hired Moses Cooke to design formal gardens. Architect Hugh May extensively remodeled the house. Charles Bridgman and Thomas Wright later worked on the gardens. Humphry Repton landscaped the park in the late 18th century. Sir Jeffrey Wyattville designed lodges and buildings. Cassiobury Lodge still stands.
The Earls of Essex lived at Cassiobury for over 250 years. By 1900, the house was no longer a permanent residence. Parts of the estate were sold in 1908. Watford Urban District Council bought 65 acres in 1909. They created a “people’s park and pleasure ground”. More land was purchased later.
Sadly, Cassiobury House was demolished in 1927. However, the grand staircase is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The old stable block became Cassiobury Court on Richmond Drive.
Today Cassiobury Court is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic. It dates back to the early 1800s. But technical analysis revealed internal structures from the late 1600s.
Little Cassiobury also stands today. It may have been designed by Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham. Renovations occurred in 1937-38. Hertfordshire County Council bought Little Cassiobury in 1939. It became an education office. Now vacant, it is listed as “at risk”.
The Parish Church of St Mary in Watford was the burial place for the Morison and Capel families. The Essex Chapel contains ornate wall monuments. These were created by sculptor Nicholas Stone.
The site of Cassiobury House is now residential properties. Cassiobury Park is a public park. Though the main house is gone, traces of its noble past remain. Street names like Coningesby Drive and Devereux Drive recall former Lords of Cassiobury House.
Cassiobury Estate has transformed over the years. From a grand estate to a suburban area, its history remains. Remembering the families who lived here adds depth to this place.