AYOT ST. PETER’S (1/4 mile N. from Ayot Station, G.N.R.) lies in a pretty district watered by the rivers Maran and Lea.  The village is small, but has a commodious Parish Room, containing a small library.  There was a mill here in the time of the Great Survey, the rent of which was three shillings and 200 eels from the mill-pool per annum.  A church, bearing “a short spire erected upon the tower,” stood on the hill-top in Chauncy’s day; in 1751 an octagonal structure of red brick was built by the rector (Dr. Freeman) some distance from the village.  This church was demolished in 1862 and a new one built upon its site; in 1874 this was in turn destroyed by lightning, and in 1875 the present church of St. Peter, E.E. in style, was erected much nearer to the village.  It contains a very fine pulpit, carved by Miss Bonham, of Norwood, upon which the figures of SS.  Alban and Helen are conspicuous among others.  There are several memorial windows, tastefully designed, one of which, to the memory of Mrs. I. A. Robinson, was designed by the architect (J.  P. Seddon).  A delightful stroll may be taken from the village, westwards to Wheathampstead or Lamer Park, or northwards to Codicote or Kimpton.  Nightingales are plentiful in the neighbourhood; the numerous thickets, dense and secluded, affording excellent shelter to this shy songster.

Baas Hill is 3/4 mile W. from Broxbourne Station, G.E.R.

Babb’s Green (nearly midway between Mardock and Widford Station, G.E.R.) is a small hamlet.

Baker’s Grove is 11/2 miles S.W. from Stevenage Station, G.N.R.

[Illustration:  OLD COTTAGE, BALDOCK]

BALDOCK, a small town in the northern extremity of the county, lies between the chalk hills at the junction of the Great North Road and the Roman Icknield Way.  The malting industry is still busily pursued, although the town is not so exclusively devoted to it as formerly.  Very fine barley was grown in the district before the reign of Elizabeth, and the horse fairs, of which there are several annually, are well attended.  The township was founded by the Knights Templars, in whose time there stood a Lazar-house a little eastwards from the town.  The church, dating from the fourteenth century, is large, and of considerable architectural interest.  The chancel and adjoining chapels are Perp. and contain sedilia and piscinae; the nave has eight bays and a lofty clerestory.  The rood-screen is co-extensive with the width of the entire church; the octagonal font is of great antiquity (probably not less than 700 years); there are several brasses, two of which are of the early part of the fifteenth century.  Note also (1) the defaced slab, with Lombardic inscription to Reynaud de Argenthem, (2) the piscina-like recess in the N. chapel, (3) the Dec. pillars and arches of nave, (4) the fine old chest near rood-screen (N. chapel).  Baldock has been the recipient of many bequests; existing charities are in the name of Roe, Wynne, Pryor, Cooch, Clarkson, Smith, Parker, and a few others, the whole aggregating a considerable annual sum.  The Wynne Almshouses are in the spacious High Street, where are also the fine town hall and fire station, erected in 1896-7.  Some side streets between the church and station are noticeable for the variety of cottage architecture which they display.