Catalogue description Manorial records, title deeds and family papers of the Abel Smith family of the Woodhall Park Estate, Hertfordshire, 1139 - 1917

This collection relates to the Woodhall Park estate which, in the late 19th century, comprised some 10,000 acres in Watton-at-Stone and the surrounding parishes. Owned by the Boteler family for three centuries, the estate was purchased in 1774 by (Sir) Thomas Rumbold of the East India Company, after being mortgaged to Lord Clive and Henry Verelst. The present house was built by Thomas Leverton in 1777. Although none of Rumbold's personal papers survive in this collection, a minute book of meetings of his attornies, with accounts (1777-1781), and three account books of Woodhall Park Estate (1782-1790), one containing a "journal" of part of his journey from Madras in 1780 on his resignation as Governor, were deposited by the British Records Association DE/B 1297

For the title deeds of the Aston Bury Estate, dating from the 12th century, and a further collection of documents relating to this property see DE/A6

Abel-Smith family of Woodhall Park, Hertfordshire

Smith, Abel-, family of Woodhall Park, Hertfordshire

[Accession 225]

Deposited August 1949

Many of the court rolls, and some other papers, were deposited by stewards of the manors; these items have been marked "Acc 93"