WALLINGTON (31/2 miles E. from Baldock) lies in one of the most quiet districts of the county, a district almost entirely agricultural.  The village is small; a few cottages are ancient and picturesque, but there is little to notice.  Take the lane opposite the Plough Inn to reach the church, which can show a good Perp. roof and screen, and some mutilated monuments and brasses in the chapel.  The main structure is Dec.; but the chancel was rebuilt forty years ago.  A walk affording views very characteristic of Herts may be taken from the footpath near the walled pond adjoining the church, by bearing S.S.E. to Red Hill, Rushden and Cottered.

Walsworth, a hamlet, is almost a suburb at the N.E. end of Hitchin, 1/2 mile from the station.

[Illustration:  WALTHAM CROSS]

WALTHAM CROSS, on the London-Cambridge road, owes its name, as is well known, to the Cross which Edward I. erected to the memory of Queen Eleanor about 11/4 mile W. from Waltham Abbey.  The cross stands a little W. from Waltham Station (G.E.R.), where the above-mentioned road meets that which leads E. to the Abbey.  Although frequently restored it is perhaps even now more complete than any other Eleanor Cross still existing. (That erected at St. Albans, as already stated, was destroyed about 200 years ago.) It is, I believe, disputed as to whether it was designed by Pietro Cavalini or not; it was completed in 1294.  It is hexagonal in shape, of three stages, diminishing from basement to summit; the details of its sculpture can be readily seized by examining Mr. New’s drawing.  The restoration of 1833 was worked in Bath stone; this was largely replaced by new material, in Ketton stone, only a few years ago, at which time the Old Falcon Inn, which projected almost to the cross, was pulled down, thus affording a view of the monument from all sides.

The Four Swans, close to the cross, dates from 1260, as is testified on the large, quaint sign-board which swings above the road; but only a few portions of the present structure are of any great antiquity.  There is a modern church a little N. from the cross; but much of the district commonly called Waltham is in Essex.  Of great interest to visitors, however, and about 1 mile W. from the Cross, is Theobald’s Park, a brick mansion erected about 150 years back by Sir G. W. Prescott, Bart.  At one of the entrances to the park stands Temple Bar, brought here from Fleet Street and erected in its present position in 1888.  The house does not occupy the site of the historic manor house visited by so many sovereigns, which stood on a slight eminence some distance to the N.W.  It was William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burghley, who commenced to build that famous mansion in 1560, and enlarged it considerably when he found it pleasant in the eyes of many persons of high degree.  Queen Elizabeth was frequently a visitor at Theobalds.  It was Burghley’s son, Robert Cecil, who entertained James I. here as that monarch was on his way to London