Hatfield House, St Albans, England

Site is open to the public. Opening may be limited, please check Visitor Information for any restrictions.

Brief description of site

The site has medieval origins. The present gardens were laid out in the early-17th century, and redeveloped and extended in the 19th and 20th centuries. The gardens occupy 20 hectares, situated within a park and woodland covering 212 hectares.

Brief history of site

There was a park and house here from at least the 13th century. Hatfield Palace was built around 1480-97 by Cardinal John Morton, with formal garden compartments along the south side. The site went to the Crown after the Dissolution, and it was here that Queen Elizabeth was brought news of her accession in 1558. Robert Cecil gained the estate in 1607, and pulled down three sides of the Palace, leaving the hall, and built a new house close by to the south-east, flanked by gardens to the west and east. John Tradescant the elder became gardener at Hatfield in around 1612, supervising the planting of the gardens, the plants including rare specimens from abroad.

Location information:

OS Landranger Map Sheet Number:	166	Grid Ref:	TL237084
Latitude:	51.76063	Longitude:	-0.2090509

Key information:

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