The Watford Knight's Fee: The Medieval Manors of Watford, Northamptonshire.

As far back as the Norman Conquest of 1066, Watford with three towns was exceptional. Soon after, the king awarded Watford as a knight's fee--a parcel of land sufficient to support a knight. Two centuries on, the single holding was broken into separate manors for the deceased lord's daughters. Some 350 troublesome years and three families later, the manors of Watford were recombined by a wealthy London merchant.

Remarkably, the heirs of the Ardern family of Watford held the manors continuous...