Hatfield House, Jacobean country house in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England
Hatfield House is a red-brick Jacobean country house in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, built 1607–1611 for Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. Its left brick block carries a square tower with a domed cupola and weather vane; a stone centre section has a clock tower above a round-arched arcade, and a brick wing with mullioned windows continues to the right. A low stone balustrade runs above the formal garden.
Robert Cecil commissioned the building from 1607 after receiving the land from the king in exchange for another property. Construction was completed in 1611 and has remained in the Cecil family ever since.
The estate takes its name from the settlement that grew around royal holdings in the area since medieval times. Visitors can see furniture and textiles inside that were collected by successive generations of the family.
The garden and parkland are open from Wednesday to Sunday, while tours of the interior rooms are usually offered on weekdays. Parts of the site lie on level ground, while other areas require walking over gravel paths.
An old oak tree stands in the park where Elizabeth I, as princess, is said to have received word of her accession to the throne in 1558. The tree remains visible to visitors today and serves as a historical landmark on the grounds.
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