Watton-at-Stone
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| Watton-at-Stone | |
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| Statistics | |
| Population: | 2,272 (2001) |
| Ordnance Survey | |
| OS grid reference: | TL299194 |
| Administration | |
| District: | East Hertfordshire |
| Shire county: | Hertfordshire |
| Region: | East of England |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Hertfordshire |
| Historic county: | Hertfordshire |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Hertfordshire Constabulary |
| Fire and rescue: | {{{Fire}}} |
| Ambulance: | East of England |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | HERTFORD |
| Postal district: | SG14 |
| Dialling code: | 01920 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | North East Hertfordshire |
| European Parliament: | East of England |
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Watton-at-Stone is a village in Hertfordshire, England, situated midway between the towns of Stevenage and Hertford in the valley of the River Beane. It has a population of 2,272 (2001 census).
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[edit] Village life
There is little employment directly within the village and it largely serves as a dormitory for commuters to London or to the nearby towns.
The village has a primary school and nursery school. The co-educational Heath Mount independent school is located on the outskirts in the private estate of the Grade II* listed Woodhall Park.
The A602 road formerly ran through the centre of the village between Stevenage and Hertford before a bypass was built in the 1980s through farmland to the north-east. The section of the road to Hertford was renamed the A119, and the A602 then ran out of Watton-at-Stone to Ware.
Watton-at-Stone is served by a railway station on the Hertford-Stevenage branch line. The station opened for passengers on 2nd June 1924, was closed on 11th September 1939 (though the line continued to run through the village), and reopened on 17th May 1982, paid-for partly by public subscription.
A war memorial lies in a field adjoining the church.
[edit] History
The name Watton first appeared in writing in an 11th-century publication of 10th-century Anglo-Saxon wills as Wattun. It was later recorded in the Domesday Book as both Wodtune and Watone. The origin of the word is uncertain, and is variously ascribed to Old English wád, or woad, and ton meaning small farming settlement; or waden meaning ford; or from waétan meaning watery.
The suffix -at-Stone dates from the early 13th century and is derived from the presence of two large examples of Hertfordshire puddingstone, now situated at the Waggon and Horses public house.
A Roman Road ran from Verulamium (modern St Albans), fording the River Beane at Watton-at-Stone. A battle between the Danes and Saxons took place nearby in 1016. In later years, the natural springs in the area once made the village a popular spa town.
The village has a number of dwellings dating from early Tudor, such as Watton House, through to late Georgian constructions. Its flintstone Anglican church dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Andrew dates from the 15th century.
[edit] Archaeological finds
The Iron Age Aston Mirror was found nearby, closer to Watton-at-Stone than to the village of Aston, but technically in Aston parish due to the convoluted border. It is now kept at the British Museum. A collection of Belgic armour and weaponry was discovered in the mid-19th century by workers digging a drain at the north end of the village.
[edit] Famous residents
Watton-at-Stone is home to the boxing promoter Frank Warren. It was the birthplace and childhood home of the actor Rupert Grint, well-known from his role of Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series. The famous locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley lived in Watton House until his death in 1941.
[edit] Alternative names
The name is also spelled unhyphenated as Watton at Stone and appears in this form on Ordnance Survey maps. The County Council favours the hyphenated version. Both spellings are equally valid.
Locally, the '-at-Stone' suffix is frequently dropped.
