Westmill Green is a hamlet 11/2 mile S.W. from Westmill Station, G.E.R.

WESTON, a large village 3 miles S.E. from Baldock, has an interesting, restored church, dating from about 1200.  It has a N. transept, in which are two good Norman windows; a piscina, E.E., is in the nave.  The massive embattled tower, which carries an octagonal, N.E. turret, was rebuilt in 1867.  In the churchyard may be seen two small stones, about four yards apart, which, according to local tradition, mark the grave of the Weston giant.  The church was once a property of the Knights Templars.  There is what seems a second village just where a narrow footpath leads from the Lufen Hall Road to the church, which stands 1/2 mile E. from the long main street.  Many folk may still be noticed plaiting in the neighbourhood.

Weston Dane End (11/2 mile S. from the above village) is a hamlet on the road to Walkern.

Westwick Row (2 miles S.E. from Hemel Hempstead) is a hamlet near Leverstock Green, in a charming neighbourhood.

WHEATHAMPSTEAD lies in a hollow, in the valley of the Lea.  Cyclists approaching the village from St. Albans by way of Sandridge and No Man’s Land must beware of the steep descent from the Old Red Cow to the Swan Inn.  The place undoubtedly owes its name to the fine wheat grown in the neighbourhood; it is very picturesque, particularly around the church and vicarage, and by the waterside towards Brocket Hall.

The cruciform church, W. from the centre of the village, is E.E. and Dec. with a few Perp. features.  A doorway in the Brocket Chapel is supposed to be Saxon, but I cannot say whether the supposition is correct; the chapel also contains an altar-tomb with effigies of Sir John Brocket and his wife, Margaret, bearing date 1543, and a piscina in the S. wall.  A brass of much interest is that to Hugh Bostock and his wife, Margaret (circa 1450), showing their figures in robes.  These persons were the parents of John de Wheathampsted. (See St. Albans.) An old marble tablet is to John Heyworth (d. 1558) and his wife Joan.  Note also the monumental effigies in N. transept to Sir John Garrard, Bart. (d. 1637), and his wife Elizabeth (d. 1632).  The reredos is very fine.

Forty years ago the village was truly rural, but the rebuilding of the old mill between the church and station (G.N.R. branch from Hatfield to Dunstable) and the erection of several modern shops in the main street has altered its appearance. Wheathampstead House, close to the station, is the seat of Earl Cavan; Lamer Park, a little N., slopes pleasantly towards the fine home of A. G. B. Cherry-Garrard, Esq.

Mention must be made of the curious bronze vessel of the Anglo-Saxon period, resembling a teapot, found in the neighbourhood some years ago.  It is figured and described in the recently published Victoria History of Hertfordshire.

Wheathampstead Cross (11/2 mile S.E. from Harpenden Station, M.R.) is 2 miles S.W. from the above village.  It contains nothing but a few cottages.