Rawdon House

Rawdon House is a red brick country house in Broxbourne featuring two distinct architectural sections built in different periods. The eastern section retains original Jacobean design, while the northern section displays later Victorian additions that expanded the structure.

The original section was built in 1622 by Marmaduke Rawdon as a substantial country estate. King James I visited the house and used a dedicated smoking room in the gardens, marking it as a place of some importance during the early 1600s.

The house functioned as a boarding school and later as a convent for over a century, reflecting how country estates adapted to new roles as education and religious institutions took hold. The shift from family residence to communal spaces shows how buildings transformed their purpose while keeping their walls.

The building currently serves as office space and the west facade is visible from the High Street in Hoddesdon, allowing pedestrians to view it easily. Since it is not open to the public, visitors can only observe the exterior and its architectural details from the street.

The property includes an old water supply system with pipes running from north of Lord Street to the town center, a piece of infrastructure that served the area long before modern plumbing. A Samaritan Woman statue forms part of this historical water system, adding an unusual sculptural element to the utility.

Location: Broxbourne

GPS coordinates: 51.75780,-0.01208

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:44