Hatfield House (Hatfield)

Hatfield House in Hertfordshire is a really spectacular Jacobean house with some beautiful gardens and park. The house is perhaps best remembered because Queen Elizabeth I is said to have been sitting beneath an Oak tree in the grounds in 1511, when she was first told that she had acceded to the throne. Local people use the park frequently for family days out, picnics and walks. The grounds also host a variety of Craft Days, Car Rallies, theatre and country shows. ~~A Brief History~~ Hatfield House started out as Hatfield Palace, built in 1485 by the Bishop of Ely. Henry VIII took it over and used it chiefly as a residence for his children, ...  Read the complete review

At a recent wedding in St. Albans I was looking for something to see on the way back. I had seen that Hatfield was close by so I persuaded my parents that we should see it on the way back. My Dad was keen, but my Mum agreed reluctantly - think she would have preferred it if we had stopped off at a nice country pub for lunch! SOME HISTORY: Hatfield House was originally Hatfield Palace and was built in around 1485 by John Morton, a minister to Henry VII and Archbishop of Canterbury. The palace was taken over by Henry VIII who used it to house his children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. Under Mary I, Elizabeth was kept under house arrest at Hatfield. ...  Read the complete review