Hatfield House, Park and Gardens Houses

The State Rooms of this celebrated Jacobean House are rich in paintings, furniture, fine tapestries and historic armour. The extensive garden was originally planted by John Tradescant the Elder in the early 17th century. Lady Gwendolen Cecil, younger daughter of Prime Minister Salisbury, designed the West Garden as it is today. The East Garden was laid out by the 5th Marquess of Salisbury. The present Dowager Lady Salisbury dedicated 30 years to the restoration and improvement of the garden which now bears her indelible imprint. In the garden can be found the Great Hall, the surviving wing of the Royal Palace of Hatfield (1485) where Elizabeth I spent some of her childhood.

The House, Park and Garden are open to visitors between Easter and the end of September. The Old Palace offers a unique venue for corporate and private parties, marriage ceremonies, wedding receptions and other events and the Estate supports a variety of other thriving businesses ranging from residential and commercial properties to a timber business, traditional breed meat products and Christmas tree sales. The garden at Hatfield House dates from the early 17th century when Robert Cecil, Ist Earl of Salisbury, employed John Tradescant the Elder to collect plants for his new home. Tradescant was sent to Europe where he found and brought back trees, bulbs, plants and fruit trees, which had never previously been grown in England. This beautifully designed garden included orchards, elaborate fountains, scented plants, water parterres, terraces and herb gardens.