WATTON, a village, a parish, and a sub-district, in the district and county of Hertford. The village stands on the river Beane, 4¼ miles N by W of Hertford r. station; and has a post-office‡ under Hertford, a malting establishment, and a large water mill. The parish includes Wemstead hamlet, and comprises 3,499 acres. Real property, £5,364. Pop. in 1851, 976; in 1861, 864. Houses, 178. The manor belonged, in the time of Henry I., to Peter de Valoines; and passed to the Baliols, the D'Aubenis, the Peletots, the Botelers, the Rumbolds, and the Smiths. Woodhall Park is the seat of A. Smith, Esq. Roman coins have been found. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £700.* Patron, A. Smith, Esq. The church has been restored at a cost of about £6,000. A lecture-room is at Wemstead; and there are national schools, and charities £40.—The sub-district contains 7 parishes. Acres, 16,133. Pop., 4,138. Houses, 831.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))