THE REGIONAL SURVEY OF HATFIELD BROAD OAK. 195
It appears that the availability of this water had much to do
with the importance of the Hatfield Broad Oak site. On an
extensive outcrop of brickearth, at its southern extremity, a town
grew up outside the precincts of a priory. The site chosen for
the priory, a good one which had without doubt attained some
importance previously, lies in the angle between the valleys of
the Pincey Brook and its tributary, the Mus Brook.
When approaching the town from the west it can be seen, as
described by Mr. Miller Christy, "pleasantly situated on rising
ground." The road leading up from Long Bridge is now scarcely
known by its old name of Mill Hill, for the windmill which stood
there has ceased to exist for close on half a century. Seen from
the south the red roofs of the town, backed by the well-wooded
skyline, look particularly attractive across the smaller valley
of the Mus Brook. The trees, those of Barrington Park (the
modern equivalent of Priory grounds), have a soft beauty which
serves to emphasize the grace of the 15th century tower of the
parish church. This tower, the successor of a central tower on
the priory church, acts as a landmark over miles of country.
In consequence the views to be obtained from its roof are well
worth the labour of climbing the stairs. Especially interesting
is the view over the roofs of the town, providing an excellent
idea of the street plan and the form of the historic buildings.
The yard of the famous Cock Inn (in which a market used to be
held every Saturday evening), the gables of Town Farm House
and the great barns beside it can all be seen, while the Pincey
Brook flows south-westwards towards Down Hall, near Matching.
The Priory of Hatfield Regis was founded in 1135 by Aubrey
de Vere, Earl of Oxford, as a cell of the Benedictine Abbey of
St. Melaine. Thus, not only the parish, but also the priory,
has wealthy and notable connections. Little remains to-day
of the actual buildings ; there are the bases of some of the walls
beneath the turf of Barrington Park, a stretch of 15th century
wall, several ditches and rectangular fish-ponds which indicate
the former extent of the precincts. In addition we know how
large was the Priory Church, for its foundations have been
uncovered. The east end of the present building is buttressed
by masonry which formerly gave support to a central tower.
Beyond this lay an aisled chancel with transepts that were
unsymmetrical on account of other buildings to the north.