Gaddesden Place
Encyclopedia
Gaddesden Place, near Berkhamsted
in Hertfordshire
, England
, was designed by architect
James Wyatt
and built between 1768 and 1773, and was the home of the noted Hertfordshire Halsey family
.
The Halseys moved to Great Gaddesden
in 1458 and later became lessees of the Rectory of Gaddesden until March 12, 1545. When Henry VIII
dissolved the monasteries during the Reformation
, he granted the estate to William Halsey. Thomas Halsey MP
(1731–1788) erected Gaddesden Place, to Wyatt's design.
Gaddesden Place is said to be Wyatt's first country work and represents his conformity at the start of his active career to the English
Palladian
tradition. The house is set in an elevated position overlooking the Gade Valley and is said to enjoy one of the finest views in the Home Counties
. The conservatory was added in 1891 and has recently been extensively restored. Gaddesden Place was gutted by fire, on the 1 February 1905, and was subsequently rebuilt. The quadrant links and north and south pavilions were demolished in 1955 and 1963 because of dry rot. The house and its grounds have been frequently used as film locations, including a recent appearance in Lewis.
The building, which is listed as Grade II, was purchased in 1984 by Charles Moir, founder of the Xara
software company and has been the headquarters Xara Group Ltd since that time.
Berkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, was designed by architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
James Wyatt
James Wyatt
James Wyatt RA , was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.-Early classical career:...
and built between 1768 and 1773, and was the home of the noted Hertfordshire Halsey family
Halsey Baronets
The Halsey Baronetcy, of Gaddesden in the County of Hertford, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 22 June 1920 for the Conservative politician Frederick Halsey. The third Baronet was a Captain in the Royal Navy. The fourth Baronet is an Anglican priest.Thomas...
.
The Halseys moved to Great Gaddesden
Great Gaddesden
Great Gaddesden is a village and civil parish in Dacorum Hundred in Hertfordshire, England. It is located in the Chiltern Hills, north of Hemel Hempstead. The parish borders to Flamstead, Hemel Hempstead, Nettleden and Little Gaddesden and also to Studham in Bedfordshire.The Church St. John the...
in 1458 and later became lessees of the Rectory of Gaddesden until March 12, 1545. When Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
dissolved the monasteries during the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, he granted the estate to William Halsey. Thomas Halsey MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(1731–1788) erected Gaddesden Place, to Wyatt's design.
Gaddesden Place is said to be Wyatt's first country work and represents his conformity at the start of his active career to the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Palladian
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
tradition. The house is set in an elevated position overlooking the Gade Valley and is said to enjoy one of the finest views in the Home Counties
Home Counties
The home counties is a term which refers to the counties of South East England and the East of England which border London, but do not include the capital city itself...
. The conservatory was added in 1891 and has recently been extensively restored. Gaddesden Place was gutted by fire, on the 1 February 1905, and was subsequently rebuilt. The quadrant links and north and south pavilions were demolished in 1955 and 1963 because of dry rot. The house and its grounds have been frequently used as film locations, including a recent appearance in Lewis.
The building, which is listed as Grade II, was purchased in 1984 by Charles Moir, founder of the Xara
Xara
Xara is a UK-based software company founded in 1981. It has developed software for a variety of computer platforms, in chronological order: The Acorn Atom, BBC Micro, Z88, Atari ST, Acorn Archimedes, Microsoft Windows and Linux. It was originally called Computer Concepts, Ltd.; the company name...
software company and has been the headquarters Xara Group Ltd since that time.
External links
- Gaddesden Place home page
- The Gaddesden Place fire of 1905 Great Gaddesden (A Guide to Old Hertfordshire)
- Gaddesden Place and Xara Online
- The Halseys and Gaddesden Place