Hunsdon House stands between the church and Gilston Park.  During the reign of Edward IV., Sir John Oldhall “built here a fair House after the mode of a Castle ... which building, ’tis said, cost L7,222”.  This would be an enormous sum of money in those days.  The original structure had a high tower and large courtyard.  Henry VIII. made the house a palace, and in so doing appears to have almost rebuilt it; it is known that his children were often here, as the King had a high opinion of Hertfordshire air.  Queen Elizabeth gave the estate to Sir Henry Cary, Kt., her cousin, and created him Baron Hunsdon.  The “palace” was surrounded by a moat, crossed by two bridges; the grand entrance and lofty clock tower, the outhouses and grounds are elaborately depicted in a print in Chauncy’s History.  The present house was erected at the beginning of this century, partly on a fresh site, but some portions of what was the W. extremity of the old palace are built into the E. wing.  Two fine Jacobean chimney-pieces still remain; but little else is left of the old Tudor home, and the moat has been levelled.  The present house, however, is an imposing, even noble structure of red brick, and its position, backed by the grand old elms in the park, is very picturesque.  N.E. stood Hunsdon Lodge, the hunting lodge of Queen Elizabeth.

HUNTON BRIDGE is a pleasant little village at the meeting of the roads from Watford, King’s Langley, and St. Albans, on the Grand Junction Canal.  The nearest station is King’s Langley (L.&N.W.R.), 11/4 mile N. There is a good modern inn and many pretty cottages, and folk in search of rest and quiet might journey farther and find less suitable retirement.  The nearest church is at Langleybury (q.v.).

ICKLEFORD, formerly Ickleton, is a village on the Roman Icknield Way, which at this spot fords the little river Hiz; hence its name.  It is 2 miles N. from Hitchin.  The church was restored in 1860; but portions of the ancient fabric have been carefully retained, and a small chapel added to the chancel.  The tower is Norman, as are also part of the nave arcade and the S. doorway.  The chancel arch, pointed, is finely carved; the stairs to the rood-loft still remain; there is a piscina in the chancel.  Note brass to Thomas Somer and his wife (circa 1400).  S. from the church is Ickleford Manor, in a small park, for some years the residence of Commander H. C. Dudley Ryder, R.N.  It is not of historic interest.

IPPOLLITTS or St. Ippolitts (2 miles S.E. from Hitchin) was formerly called Hippolits, Eppalets or Pallets, according to the taste of the speaker.  It was thought by Norden to owe its name to Hippolits, a supposed Saint, who was very skilful in the treatment of horses.  After the Saint’s death a shrine was placed to his honour in the parish church, and to this shrine near the high altar divers persons brought their ailing steeds to be healed by the attendant priest