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A brief history of Cassiobury.

1100 Cassiobury is mentioned in the Domesday book as belonging to the Abbey of St Albans
1539 Dissolution of the monasteries; King Henry 8th made himself Lord of the Manor
1545. The King sold the land to Richard Morrison, who started to build a large mansion, which was finished by his son Charles
Through marriage the Estate passed into the Capel family. Lord Capel was executed in 1649 for his loyalty to Charles 1.
At the restoration, his eldest son Arthur was created Earl of Essex and the estate was returned to the family. Arthur commisioned Hugh May to rebuild the house incorporating the original North West wing. The first Earl also started developing the park importing many exotic trees
1687 The Earl was arrested and taken to the tower for plotting to assinate Charles 11. In July of that year The Earl was found with his throat cut.
1800. the 5th Earl commissioned James Wyatt to remodel the house
1902 Family moved out as the upkeep of the house was too expensive.
1909: 184 acres of parkland sold by the 8th Earl .Watford Council bought most of it and used it for housing and a public park.
1927:the house was demolished. The grand staircase designed by Gibbons was removed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Other materials from the house were used to restore Monmouth house in Watford High Street
1967: the entrance gates were demolished in order to widen the road.

Many more details maps pictures etc to view in Watford Museum