Hatfield House#Gardens

File:Hatfield House Old Palace.jpg

An earlier building on the site was the Royal Palace of Hatfield. Only part of this still exists, a short distance from the present house. That palace was the childhood home and favourite residence of Queen Elizabeth I. Built in 1497 by the Archbishop of Canterbury (formerly Bishop of Ely), King Henry VII's minister, John Cardinal Morton, it comprised four wings in a square surrounding a central courtyard. The palace was seized by Henry VIII with other church properties. The nearby parish church of St Etheldreda's in Old Hatfield once served the bishop's palace as well as the village. Henry VIII's children, King Edward VI and the future Queen Elizabeth I, spent their youth at Hatfield Palace. His eldest daughter, who later reigned as Queen Mary I, lived there between 1533 and 1536, when she was sent to wait on the then Princess Elizabeth as punishment for refusing to recognise Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn and his religious reforms.

In 1548, when she was only 15 years old, Elizabeth was under suspicion of having illegally agreed to marry Thomas Seymour. The house and her servants were seized by Edward VI's agent, Robert Tyrwhit, and she was interrogated there. She successfully defended her conduct with wit and defiance. Seymour was executed in 1549 for numerous other crimes against the crown. After her two months of imprisonment in the Tower of London by her sister, Queen Mary, Elizabeth returned to Hatfield. The Queen Elizabeth Oak on the grounds of the estate is said to be the location where Elizabeth was told she was queen following Mary's death, but is considered unlikely as Mary died in November. In November 1558, Elizabeth held her first Council of State in the Great Hall.

Hatfield House is a popular tourist attraction because it has so many objects associated with Queen Elizabeth I, including gloves and a pair of silk stockings that are believed to have been the first in England. The library displays a {{convert|22|ft|m|adj=on}} long illuminated parchment roll showing the pedigree of the queen with ancestors back to Adam and Eve. The Marble Hall holds the "Rainbow Portrait" of Elizabeth.

File:HatfieldHallJosephNashc1840.jpg]]

Elizabeth's successor, King James I, did not like the palace. It was included in the jointure estate of his wife Anne of Denmark.Edmund Lodge, Illustrations of British History, vol. 3 (London, 1791), pp. 207. In 1607, King James gave it to his chief minister, Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, in exchange for Theobalds, which was the Cecils' family home on the current site of Cedars Park, Broxbourne. Cecil, who liked building, tore down three wings of the royal palace (the back and sides of the square) in 1608 and used the bricks to build the present structure. The richly carved wooden Grand Staircase and the rare stained glass window in the private chapel are among the house's original Jacobean features. Cecil employed Robert Lemynge to supervise the construction, with input from the royal surveyor Simon Basil, and Inigo Jones who visited in October 1609.Giles Worsley, Inigo Jones and the European Classical Tradition (Yale, 2007), p. 10.

During World War II, Hatfield House was the location of the first Civil Resettlement Unit and acted as headquarters for the scheme.{{cite thesis |last=White |first=Alice |date=2016 |title=From the Science of Selection to Psychologising Civvy Street: The Tavistock Group, 1939-1948 |chapter=Chapter Five: Settling down in Civvy Street |publisher=University of Kent |chapter-url=https://kar.kent.ac.uk/55057/ }} CRUs were created to help repatriated British prisoners of war transition back to civilian life and the luxurious setting of Hatfield was considered very beneficial to these men. On 12 July 1945, the king and queen visited the CRU at Hatfield, which generated significant news coverage.{{Cite news|title=The King and Queen with Ex-Prisoners: Visit to Civil Resettlement Unit|date=13 July 1945|work=The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury}}{{Cite news|title=Resettling War Prisoners: Aids to Civil Life: The King and Queen at Hatfield|date=13 July 1945|work=The Times|id=CS69681389|via=Gale}}{{Cite news|title=Army's Civil Resettlement: King and Queen Visit Hatfield House Centre|date=13 July 1945|work=The Manchester Guardian|via=Proquest}}

{{wide image|Hatfield_house_panorama_19th_april2009.jpg|800px|The West garden includes a scented garden and herb or kitchen garden}}

File:Hatfieldhousegardens.jpg

The gardens, covering {{convert|42|acres|m2}},{{Cite web |title=Hatfield House {{!}} Visit Hatfield House, Park & Gardens In Hertfordshire, UK |url=https://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Hatfield House |language=en-GB}} date from the early 17th century and were laid out by John Tradescant the elder. Tradescant visited Europe and brought back trees and plants that had never previously been grown in England. The gardens included orchards, fountains, scented plants, water parterres, terraces, herb gardens and a foot maze. They were neglected in the 18th century, but restoration began in Victorian times and continues under the present Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury.

During World War I, the grounds were used to test the first British tanks. An area was dug with trenches and craters and covered with barbed-wire to represent no man's land and German trench lines on the Western Front. To commemorate this, the only surviving Mark I tank was sited at Hatfield from 1919 to 1970 before being moved to The Tank Museum, Bovington.{{cite web | title = Identity Crisis | publisher = The Bovington Tank Museum | date = May 2006 | url = http://www.tankmuseum.co.uk/newsart_0506.html | access-date = 11 January 2008 | archive-date = 12 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080212104415/http://www.tankmuseum.co.uk/newsart_0506.html | url-status = dead }}

The Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association has placed its 'Troopie' memorial statue on the grounds of Hatfield House due to the long association of the Cecil family with Southern Rhodesia. Around its base is a roll of regimental members ('troopies') who fell in the Rhodesian Bush War and several inscriptions, including 'In reconciliation and hope for future peace in Zimbabwe'.[http://www.therli.com/Troper_report.asp Troper Report] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527021818/http://www.therli.com/Troper_report.asp |date=27 May 2015 }}

The State Rooms can be seen in the midweek guided tours and visitors can look around in their own time at weekends. On Friday, the Garden Connoisseur's Day, the house is open for guided tours and pre-booked specialist groups. There are five miles of marked trails.

File:Hatfield House (14207504937).jpg|Hatfield House

File:Long gallery, Hatfield House-19670646391.jpg|The Long Gallery

File:Hatfield House Armoury-8454284614.jpg|The Armoury

File:Hatfield house north wing.jpg|Hatfield house, North wing

File:Hatfield House - geograph.org.uk - 1838612.jpg|Hatfield House, Side view

Hatfield House has been used for location filming on a number of film and television productions, including: Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984);{{cn|date=July 2022}} Orlando (1992);{{cite web |title = Filming |url = http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/visit/house/filming/ |publisher = Hatfield House |year = 2010 |access-date = 4 October 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718132419/http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/visit/house/filming/ |archive-date = 18 July 2011 |url-status = dead }} Batman (1989); Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005); The New World (2005); Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007); Hot Fuzz (2007);{{Cite web|last=Medd|first=James|title=Where was 'Hot Fuzz' filmed?|url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/where-was-hot-fuzz-filmed|access-date=2021-01-31|website=CN Traveller|date=18 November 2018|language=en-GB}} Shakespeare in Love (1998); Dustbin Baby; Sherlock Holmes (2009); Agatha Christie's Marple (2010);{{cn|date=July 2022}} Get Him to the Greek (2010); Antiques Roadshow (2010);{{cite web |title = BBC One's Antiques Roadshow here this summer |url = http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/whats-on/news/bbc-ones-antiques-roadshow-here-this-summer/ |publisher = Hatfield House |date = 5 May 2010 |access-date = 4 October 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110718132451/http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/whats-on/news/bbc-ones-antiques-roadshow-here-this-summer/ |archive-date = 18 July 2011 |url-status = dead }} MasterChef Australia (2010);[http://tvnz.co.nz/masterchef-australia/week-fifteen-recap-3864619 Masterchef Australia, Television New Zealand website.] Retrieved on 27 October 2011. Garden Secrets (2010);{{cite web |title = Alan Tichmarsh's Garden Secrets |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vys0n/Alan_Titchmarshs_Garden_Secrets_17th_Century// |publisher = BBC |date = 8 November 2010 |access-date = 8 November 2010 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20240525021712/https://www.webcitation.org/5u7VPxaJV?url=http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/whats-on/news/australian-masterchef-alan-titchmarshs-garden-secrets-transmission-dates/ |archive-date = 25 May 2024 |url-status = dead }} Royal Upstairs Downstairs (2011);{{cn|date=July 2022}} My Week with Marilyn (2010);{{cn|date=July 2022}} Paddington (2014);{{cite web |title=Filming Locations for Paddington (2014), around London. |url=https://movie-locations.com/movies/p/Paddington.php |website=Movie Locations |publisher=The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations |access-date=23 January 2021}}{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Joanne |title=On location: Paddington |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1747ca2a-7a29-11e4-8958-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/1747ca2a-7a29-11e4-8958-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |newspaper=Financial Times |date=5 December 2014}} Mr. Holmes (2015);{{cite web|url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/what-s-on/mr-holmes-starring-sir-ian-mckellen-filmed-in-hatfield-1-4119155|title=Mr Holmes starring Sir Ian McKellen filmed in Hatfield|work=Welwyn Hatfield Times|first=Alan|last=Davies|date=19 June 2015|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029013150/https://www.whtimes.co.uk/what-s-on/mr-holmes-starring-sir-ian-mckellen-filmed-in-hatfield-1-4119155|url-status=dead}} Doctor Thorne;{{cn|date=July 2022}} Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016);{{cn|date=July 2022}} The Crown;{{Cite web|url=https://suitcasemag.com/articles/filming-locations-visit-the-crown|title=13 Film Locations from the Crown (That Yes, You Can Visit IRL)}} Breathe (2017);{{Cite web|url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/things-to-do/breathe-claire-foy-andrew-garfield-film-hatfield-house-5579622|title = Breathe starring Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield filmed in Hatfield|date = 29 October 2017}} All the Money in the World (2017); Trust;{{cite magazine|last1=Malkin|first1=Marc|title=Here's How FX's New Series Trust Replicated the Sutton Place Estate of John Paul Getty III|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/heres-how-fxs-new-series-trust-replicated-the-former-sutton-place-estate-of-john-paul-getty-iii?CNDID=19775218&spMailingID=13260888&spUserID=MTMzMTM1NTIwNjM2S0&spJobID=1380435451&spReportId=MTM4MDQzNTQ1MQS2|access-date=6 April 2018|magazine=Architectural Digest|date=2 April 2018}}The Favourite (2018);{{cn|date=July 2022}} "Sucker" (2019);{{cite web|url=https://people.com/royals/the-jonas-brothers-music-video-royal-connection-queen-elizabeth/|title=The Jonas Brothers' Music Video Has a Major Royal Connection – and It's Not Just the Corgi Cameo!|magazine=People|first=Erin|last=Hill|date=1 March 2019|access-date=1 March 2019}} Enola Holmes;{{cite web|url=https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a34339105/enola-holmes-netflix-filming-locations/|title=You Can Visit These English Estates from Netflix's 'Enola Holmes'|work=House Beautiful|first=Mary Elizabeth|last=Andriotis|date=13 October 2020|access-date=26 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/what-s-on/enola-holmes-filming-locations-1-6857540|title=Netflix movie Enola Holmes filmed at Hatfield House|work=Welwyn Hatfield Times|first=Alan|last=Davies|date=26 September 2020|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=21 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121171055/https://www.whtimes.co.uk/what-s-on/enola-holmes-filming-locations-1-6857540|url-status=dead}} Rebecca (2020);{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-10-21/rebecca-netflix-manderley-location|title=Where Netflix's 'Rebecca' found its Manderley|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Emily|last=Zemler|date=21 October 2020|access-date=25 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a34449949/manor-houses-netflix-rebecca-filming-locations|title=You Can Visit These English Manor Houses from Netflix's Rebecca|work=House Beautiful|first=Mary Elizabeth|last=Andriotis|date=22 October 2020|access-date=26 October 2020}} Bridgerton (2020);{{cite web|url=https://www.whtimes.co.uk/things-to-do/bridgerton-phoebe-dynevor-and-rege-jean-page-6846122|title=Bridgerton 'has something for everyone and that's why it's a special show'|work=Welwyn Hatfield Times|first=Alan|last=Davies|date=15 December 2020|access-date=30 December 2020}}{{cite tweet |author=(executive producer & showrunner of Bridgerton) Chris Van Dusen|user=chrisvandusen |number=1343746029795983360|date=28 December 2020|title=We searched and searched for the perfect garden maze to shoot this scene in. Found it at Hatfield House. #Bridgerton #LiveTweet https://t.co/z9rjkmt6Ac}} Cromwell;{{cn|date=July 2022}} Henry VIII and His Six Wives;{{cn|date=July 2022}} The Avengers (1998);{{cn|date=July 2022}} V for Vendetta;{{cn|date=July 2022}} Mortdecai (2015);{{cn|date=July 2022}} and Paddington 2.

{{Reflist}}

• Cecil, Lord David. The Cecils of Hatfield House: An English Ruling Family. Houghton Mifflin, 1973.

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728103357/http://www.pastscape.org/hob.aspx?hob_id=364603 A detailed historical record of Hatfield Palace]
• [https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Hatfield%20House&w=all Photos tagged Hatfield House] at Flickr

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