Hatfield House (around twenty miles north of London) is home to two fascinating buildings. A Jacobean stately home built by Robert Cecil (minister to King James I) and the ‘Old Palace’ – a tudor brick building built by Cardinal Morton in 1485, subsequently seized by King Henry VIII at the Dissolution in 1536 and later used as a residence for Henry’s children; Mary, Edward and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was virtually a prisoner here during the reign of Mary. Upon the death of Mary in 1558 Elizabeth held her first Council of State in the hall of the Old Palace.
Hatfield House was home to the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (three times prime minister in the late 19th century) and is today home to Lord Salisbury, both descendants of Robert Cecil.
The entrance to Hatfield House, completed in 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.
The entance to the Old Palace, completed in 1497 by Cardinal Morton, Bishop of Ely.The rear of the Old Palace and the tudor knot garden.The Old Palace and the knot garden.The Jacobean Marble Hall of Hatfield House, looking much as it would have done when completed in 1611.The celebrated Rainbow portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, painted in about 1600. The motto ‘Non sine sole iris’ (no rainbow without the sun) refers to Elizabeth as a bringer of peace.The Long Gallery was an essential feature of every Jacobean house.The Armoury. Most of the armour was purchased from the Tower of London in the 19th century.The Banqueting Hall of the Old Palace. It was here that Queen Elizabeth held her first Council of State in 1558.The Banqueting Hall of the Old Palace.
