Gidea Hall

Gidea Hall is a manor estate near Romford with medieval roots and later Renaissance developments. The surviving Grade II listed structures include original 18th-century walls, railings, and gates set near the grounds where a modern tennis club now stands.

First recorded in 1250, the estate changed hands to prominent families including Sir Thomas Cooke, who became Lord Mayor of London in 1452. The property later flourished as a center of learning during the Renaissance period.

The estate became known as a center of Renaissance learning under Sir Anthony Cooke, a Tudor scholar who tutored the young king. This intellectual legacy is still reflected in how the surviving structures stand on the grounds today.

The site lies near a modern tennis club and the historical structures remain visible from nearby vantage points. The grounds are accessible to walk around, allowing visitors to view the Grade II listed elements from different angles.

Queen Elizabeth I visited the estate in 1568, and Maria de Medici, mother-in-law of King Charles I, stayed here in 1638. These royal visits reveal the property's standing among the most important English estates of the era.

Location: Romford

GPS coordinates: 51.58780,0.19418

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:03