Cedars Park, Broxbourne

Cedars Park is a historic public park originally the site of Theobalds Palace a Tudor palace, managed by the Borough of Broxbourne and located in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England.

The park covers 19 hectares of parkland and includes a lake, turf play maze, bocce court, play mound, pet's corner, flint arch and historic walls, tea room and arts centre.^[1] The park received a Green Flag award in 2013.^[2]

History

Cedars Park is the site of a 16th-century Royal Palace known as Theobalds Palace which was built between 1564 and 1585 by Sir William Cecil.^[3] On his accession, James I persuaded William's son Sir Robert Cecil to exchange Theobalds Palace, the royal palace on the site of the present Cedars Park, for Hatfield House, so that it became a Royal Palace.^[4] James I dramatically extended the park and buildings. As a Royal Palace, it was the scene of state occasions, from a masque by Ben Jonson to the raising of the Royal Standard by Charles I at the start of the Civil War.^[5]James I died here in 1625.^[3] Charles I rarely used Theobalds Palace and granted the estate to various nobles as an acknowledgement of their services until it was sold to the Prescott family in the late 1700s, when it underwent great changes.^[4] In 1820, Theobalds including the new mansion The Cedars built by the Prescott family rented it out to Sir Henry Meux in 1820.^[4] In 1921 The Cedars was given to the town of Cheshunt by Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Hedworth Meux and a public park was created, demolishing the house. Sir Hedworth Meux, formerly The Hon Hedworth Lambton, had been involved in the siege of Ladysmith and inherited The Cedars from Valerie, Lady Meux on condition that he change his surname to Meux.^[4] The park was donated to the public in 1921 by Admiral of the Fleet the Hon. Sir Hedworth Meux. On 2 July 1921 Cedars Park was officially opened by the Earl of Cavan and Admiral Meux.^[6]

Cedars Park contains several Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAM),^[7] as the site of a magnificent and influential Tudor house (now demolished) with extensive grounds, created by the leading architects, gardeners and craftsmen for Sir William Cecil, Elizabeth I chief minister, and becoming an occasional palace for Elizabeth I. Elements of the present park can be identified as probable parts of the original Tudor or Stuart gardens.^[4]

Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund restoration project

In 2011, Broxbourne Council received a £1.89 million Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund grant to protect and improve Cedars Park, and conserve and promote its heritage.^[8] This grant is partly conditional on receiving Community support for the project and the achievement of 700 volunteer days over three years. This is the equivalent of £35,000. To date, as part of the project, the park has undergone a variety of improvements, including the opening of a café and community meeting space in 2014.^[9]

Green Flag award

The park has received a Green Flag award every year since 2009.

References