HADHAM, MAGNA and PARVA, (Hertfordshire) are 2 villages on the W. and S. W. of Bishops-Stortford. Hadham-Magna, or Much-
Hadham, which stands in a vale on the r. Ash, was once a seat of the Bps. of London, and is still their manor, which they
have lately let out upon lives. One of the late possessors was Thomas Pask, Esq; and since Felix Calvert, Esq;. There is a
custom here, that the widow of every copyholder who shall die intestate, and feifed of a copyhold estate in fee, shall
have her bench in all the copyhold lands he died feifed in this manor, and after her the youngest son. The fines on
admission to this manor are one year's quit-rent. Here is a ch. sc. Hadham-PARVA, which is on the N. side of Much-Hadham,
stands on the same stream, which comes a m. off from Albury and Pelham in the winter, and after rains. That part of it
where the r. rises in the summer, is called Hadham on Ash. The manor-house here, called Hadham-Hall, with the lands bel.
to it, was once held of the Bps. of London. It still pays castle-guard to Stortford. The most ancient lay-owner to be
found is Sir Will. Baud, in the R. of Hen. III. In 1505 the manor was conveyed to Ld. Darcy and his heirs; and Ld. Darcy
passed it to Sir Will. Capel and his heirs, one of whom, viz Arthur, was, in 1641, created by Cha. I. Baron Capel of
Hadham, and in the Ch. here lie his descendants, the Earls of Essex. In the R. of Q. Eliz. this manor was exchanged with
the crown, after which K. James I. granted it to Ld. Cecil, from whom it is descended to the present Earl of Salisbury. At
a brick-kiln near Hadham-Ford, which goes over to Hadham-Hall, are dug up with their clay, oyster-shells, and bones which
are supposed to be the teeth of large fish.