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Historic England Research Records

Hunsdon House

Hob Uid: 370200
Location :
Hertfordshire
East Hertfordshire
Hunsdon
Grid Ref : TL4189512743
Summary : Mid 15th century moated tower house, altered 1527-34 for Henry VIII. Queen Elizabeth granted the house to Sir Henry Carey in 1558/59. Further alterations and extensions were made in the first half of the 17th century. The western parts were demolished circa 1745 and the moat was infilled circa 1788. The house was replanned and rebuilt 1805-11 and altered again circa 1861. Brick-built and three storeyed, with a two storey service wing to the west and a gatehouse to the north west.
More information : (TL 4190 1275) Hunsdon House (NR).(1)

Built in 1447 by Sir John Oldhalle, then owned and rebuilt by
Henry VIII in c. 1525, and it was largely rebuilt again in 1804. No visible traces exist of the earlier manor house of 1447. The oldest parts of the present house are the cellars under the east end, which date from the 16th cent. A moat which formerly surrounded the old house has been filled up.(2-4)

Hunsdon House is not outstanding. The E front, and a gatehouse to the W of the house, are original 15th or 16th c. being built of Tudor brick, but the remainder is constructed of later brick in the mock-Tudor style. There is no trace of a moat on the ground or on APs. See ground photographs.(5)

Interim report on exploratory excavations in the cellars beneath the C15th-C16th core of the building, undertaken from 1983-4. Features revealed include the foundations of a tower staircase and corridor of the original C15th structure, and a section of the late Mediaeval moat, which was filled in during the C18th. The footings of buildings that lay originally in the inner courtyard of the house, including a corner tower, were also recorded. (6)

Hunsdon was sold by the 2nd Duke of Norfolk to Henry VIII in 1525. Henry spent some #2900 on further building works. In 1559, Queen Elizabeth granted Hunsdon to Henry Carey.(7)

Hunsdon House, Eastwick Road. Grade I.(8)
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Source Number : 1
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Source details : OS 6" 1960
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Source details : F1 NKB 10-FEB-72
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Source details : Partridge C
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Vol(s) : 217, 1984
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : DOE (HHR) District of East Hertfordshire Sep-1984.
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Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Mid C15
Monument End Date : 1466
Monument Start Date : 1433
Monument Type : Tower House, Moat
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building, Earthwork
Monument Period Name : Medieval
Display Date : Altered 1525-34
Monument End Date : 1534
Monument Start Date : 1525
Monument Type : Royal Palace
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered/extended 1st half C17
Monument End Date : 1649
Monument Start Date : 1600
Monument Type : Country House
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Part demolished c1745
Monument End Date : 1755
Monument Start Date : 1735
Monument Type : Country House
Evidence : Extant Building, Demolished Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Moat infilled c1788
Monument End Date : 1798
Monument Start Date : 1778
Monument Type : Moat
Evidence : Earthwork
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Rebuilt 1805-11
Monument End Date : 1811
Monument Start Date : 1805
Monument Type : Country House
Evidence : Extant Building
Monument Period Name : Post Medieval
Display Date : Altered c1861
Monument End Date : 1871
Monument Start Date : 1851
Monument Type : Country House
Evidence : Extant Building
Components and Objects:
Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 77679
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Listed Building List Entry Legacy Uid
External Cross Reference Number : 159955
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TL 41 SW 6
External Cross Reference Notes :
Related Warden Records :
Related Activities :
Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1972-02-10
End Date : 1972-02-10
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1983-01-01
End Date : 1984-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1986-01-01
End Date : 1987-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1990-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2007-01-01
End Date : 2007-12-31
Associated Activities :
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 2013-01-01
End Date : 2013-12-31