Hertfordshire Genealogy: Places: Water End, Sandridge

Water End, Sandridge (now Wheathampstead), on the north bank of the Lea, about a mile south-west of Ayot St. Peter, is a fine old brick mansion here engraved. It was probably built by Sir John Jennings about the year 1610, and was for many years the residence of the Jennings family. Here was born on the 5th June, 1660, Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough, who was baptised in the Abbey of St. Albans on the 17th of the same month. ... There is nothing of interest within the house, beyond a good oak staircase, a little panelling, and the usual long garret extending the whole length of the building.

This farm is of particular interest to me as my great great grandfather, Dolphin Smith (1805-1885), moved there from Ramsbury, Wiltshire, in 1846, and farmed it until about 1876, when he retired to Hatchen Green, Harpenden. The print at the head of this page may well have been drawn while he was the farmer.

At the time of the 1851 census the people in the house, which included a number of live-in farm labourers were:

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
Dolphin SMITH	Head	M	45	Ramsbury, Wilts	Farmer of 480 acres employing 22 labourers
Maria SMITH	Wife	M	39	Frecksfield [Froxfield], Wilts	Farmer's wife
Ellen SMITH	Dau		10	Ramsbury. Wilts	Scholar
John H SMITH	Son		8	Ramsbury, Wilts	Scholar
Agnes SMITH	Dau		4	Sandridge
William A SMITH	Son		2	Sandridge
Elizabeth SMITH	Dau		11m	Sandridge
Anna WOODWARDS	Serv	U	17	Wheathampstead	House Servant
Jane RUMNEY	Serv	U	16	Hatfield	House Servant
Thomas JONES	Serv	Widower	58	Mildenhall, Wilts	Agricultural Labourer
James HONNOR	Serv	U	18	Wheathampstead	Agricultural Labourer
Mark WARBEE	Serv	U	16	Wheathampstead	Agricultural Labourer
Henry WOODWARD	Serv	U	13	Wheathampstead	Agricultural Labourer

Waterend House. Grade II* House. Mid C17. Red brick with cement dressings. Plain tile roof. 2 storeys and attics. 5-window main front has 3 equal parapet gables with moulded brick coping. Beneath the gables are 2-storey shallow-projecting window bays with stone quoins and stone-dressed 5-light mullion and transom windows. To the attics are 3-light windows with thin hood moulds. The intermediate bays have square-headed doors with moulded brick surrounds and hoods. 2-light windows above these. Cornice bands to 1st and 2nd floors have single cut-brick cyma recta mouldings. Original brick finials to gables. Behind the roof are 3 tall chimney stacks with grouped octagonal shafts, moulded at the bases and caps. The rear elevation forms an open courtyard with 2 projecting gable ends, likewise with coping and finials. 1st floor bands. 3-light windows. To centre left is a narrow gabled stair turret with a 4-centre arch door and right of this isthe central chimney stack with diaper brick patterning. Square leaded casements to all elevations. Internally there is an unusually large central hall with exposed chamfer-stopped beams and a broad stone fireplace. Original simple oak spiral staircase in the turret. Smaller late C17 newel staircase in the opposite angle leading to 1st floor NE room which has a fireplace with an inscription dated 1692. An exceptionally complete example of a mid-C17 medium-sized country house. (RCHM Typescript).

Name	Relation	Marital Status	Age	Birthplace	Occupation
James COLE	Head	M	28	Potters Bar, Middlesex	Farmer 475 Acres 11 Men & 4 Boys
Sarah COLE	Wife	M	25	Leicester	Farmers Wife
Alfred COLE	Brother	U	25	Potters Bar, Middlesex	Farmers Son
Edith COLE	Daur		3	Wheathamstead
William COLE	Son		6 m	Wheathamstead
Sarah HYDE	Servant	U	18	Wheathamstead	Servant

The larger barn has been moved to the centre of St Albans and used as a restaurant. There is information about its history at www.clickonhertfordshire.co.uk/waterend.htm

A view of the ford from the other side
Published for Welwyn Stores (1929) Ltd by the Photochrome Co. Ltd - Posted 1936