WALTHAM-CROSS, a ward in the parish of CHESSUNT-ST-MARY,
hundred of HERTFORD, and county of HERTFORD,
9 miles (S. by B.) from Hertford. The population is
returned with the parish. Here is a chapel, the living
of which is a donative, in the patronage of the Trustees
of the Earl of Norwich. There is a place of worship
for Independents. This place received the adjunct
to its name from a noble cross erected, on the eastern
side of the high road, by Edward I. to his beloved consort
Eleanor, whose corpse rested here on its way from
Lincolnshire to London: it is hexangular, and highly
enriched with tabernacle-work and foliage, having pendant
shields bearing the devices of England, Castile,
Leon; and Ponthieu, and crowned statues of the queen,
the left hand holding a cordon, and the right a sceptre,
or globe. This beautiful monument having suffered
much from mutilation, was, in 1757, at the instance of
the Society of Antiquaries, enclosed by a brick wall, at
the expense of Lord Monson, then lord-of the manor.
Courts leet and baron are held twice a year. The river
Lea separates this ward from the parish of Waltham
Holy-Cross, and the new river runs through the centre
of it.' Almshouses for four poor widows, founded and
endowed by Beaumont Spital, were taken down in 1830,
and are now in progress of re-erection, in the decorated
style of English architecture.