Old Gorhambury House, Manor house ruins in St Michael, England.
Old Gorhambury House is a manor house whose stone ruins stand in open fields and reveal how it was once arranged. The remaining structures include a two-story entrance hall, a chapel section, and a prominent clock tower that still dominates the landscape.
The house was built by Sir Nicholas Bacon between 1563 and 1568 during the Elizabethan period. Its construction used stone taken from the demolished nearby St Albans Abbey, reflecting how building materials were sourced locally at that time.
The residence once housed the philosopher Francis Bacon and hosted Queen Elizabeth I on multiple occasions during the 16th century. These royal connections shaped how people in the region understood the estate's importance over time.
The ruins can be visited daily at any time since they stand in an open field without gates or barriers. Parking is limited and often fills up on weekends, so arriving early or visiting on a weekday tends to work better.
The entrance hall featured an ornate Renaissance-style porch decorated with detailed stone carvings designed to impress visitors. This architectural choice reveals how wealthy homes of that period used grand entrances to display the owner's status and refinement.
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