Cedars Park, Cheshunt

Cedars Park is the site of a 16th-century Royal Palace known as Theobalds Palace which was built between 1564 and 1585 by Sir William Cecil.[1] On his accession, James I persuaded William's son Sir Robert Cecil to exchange Theobalds for Hatfield House, so that it became a Royal Palace.[2] James I dramatically extended the park and buildings. As a Royal Palace, it was the scene of state occasions, from a masque by Ben Jonson to the raising of the Royal Standard by Charles I at the start of the Civil War.[3]James I died here in 1625.[1] Charles rarely used Theobalds Palace and granted the estate to various nobles as an acknowledgement of their services until it was sold to the Prescott family in the late 1700s, when it underwent great changes.[2] In 1820, Theobalds - including the new mansion The Cedars built by the Prescott family - was rented to Sir Henry Meux.[2] Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Hedworth Meux had been involved in the siege of Ladysmith and inherited The Cedars from Valerie, Lady Meux on condition that he change his surname to match hers. The grounds were donated to the public in 1919 and on 2 July 1921, Hedworth Meux and the Earl of Cavan officially opened the area as a public park.

Cedars Park contains several scheduled monuments,[4] as the site of a magnificent and influential Tudor house (now demolished) with extensive grounds, created by the leading architects, gardeners and craftsmen for Sir William Cecil, and becoming an occasional place for Elizabeth I to reside. Elements of the present park can be identified as probable parts of the original Tudor, Stuart and Georgian gardens and outbuildings.[2]

In 2011, Broxbourne Council received a £1.89 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund to protect and improve Cedars Park, and conserve and promote its heritage.[5] This grant is partly conditional on receiving Community support for the project and the achievement of 700 volunteer days over three years - the equivalent of £35,000. To date, as part of the project, the park has undergone a variety of improvements, including the opening of a new café and community meeting space in 2014.[6]

Between 1765 and 1770, four houses were built on the site of the demolished Theobalds Palace, with use made of the palace's materials: Old Palace House, The Cedars, Jackson House, and Grove House. Jackson House was turned into a school in the 19th century; it was demolished along with Grove House in the early 1900s. Old Palace House was destroyed in a fire in the late 1960s. What remains of The Cedars is a three-story brick building, which is currently used as a tea room and private home. The remains of some walls and foundations can be found throughout the park.[7]

Cedars Park has three entrances - three from the North (one for staff access only) and one from the West (on the A10).

Free parking facilities can be accessed from the vehicle entrance at the Western end of Theobalds Lane. The park is fully wheelchair accessible, and is located near the Theobalds Grove railway station.[8]