Theobalds
was an ancient manor close to and associated with Chestnut.
It was most famous for being the residence of William Cecil, Lord Burghley,
during the sixteenth century. James I was so enthralled with the manor
he exchanged it with Cecil's son for the more valuable manor of Hatfield.
James enclosed the house with a wall ten miles in circumference and
lived there as often as he could; he died at Theobalds in 1625.
The
manor did not fare well during the Civil War, and after the Restoration
went through several hands until it came into the ownership of the Prescott
family in the mid-eighteenth century. The remains of Theobalds' palace
were demolished in 1766. The house in the engraving was erected by George
Prescott in the later eighteenth century; the house was planned after
the queen's residence in St James' Park.
