Hilfield Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hilfield Castle |
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Hilfield Castle c 1890
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Location | Hilfield Lane, near Aldenham and Bushey, Hertfordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°39′13″N 0°20′05″W / 51.6536°N 0.3348°W |
| Construction started | 1798 |
| Completed | 1799 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Jeffry Wyatt |
Hilfield Castle, also known as Hilfield Lodge, is a historic country house. It is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Watford in Hertfordshire, England. The castle is on the edge of London.
The estate includes two large reservoirs. One of these was built by French prisoners of war in the 1790s. Today, the land around the castle is part of Aldenham Country Park. Elstree Aerodrome is nearby to the east, and the M1 motorway passes to the west.
The Castle's Story
Hilfield Castle was built between 1798 and 1799. The architect was Jeffry Wyatt. He built it for George Villiers, who was the brother of the Earl of Clarendon. The castle was made to replace an older building called Slys Castle.
The design of Hilfield Castle is in the Gothic style. It looks like a castle from a storybook. The estate also has many small cottages, barns, and a boathouse by the reservoir.
A famous expert named Nikolaus Pevsner described the castle. He said it has "castellated" walls, which means they look like battlements. It also has turrets and a gatehouse with a portcullis, which is a heavy gate that can be lowered.
The castle is built from brick. It has a tall, 4-storey central tower. This tower is flanked by octagonal (eight-sided) turrets. These turrets have narrow windows and look like they are ready for defense.
Inside, a special room is the "octagonal Breakfast Room." It has a vaulted ceiling, which means it's shaped like an arch. There is also a Gothic conservatory, which is a glass room for plants.
Hilfield Castle is a private home owned by the Jefferis family. It is not open to the public. On June 1, 1984, it became a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
The castle was sold in 1818 to John Fam Timins. He was a captain in the British East India Company. He even took part in a sea battle called the Battle of Pulo Aura. After he died in 1843, his son William Raikes Timins took over. The castle stayed in the Timins family until 1906. Then, it was sold to Lord Aldenham.
Cool Reservoirs Nearby
There are two main reservoirs near Hilfield Castle. A reservoir is a large lake used to store water.
The reservoir closest to the house is called Hilfield Reservoir. Affinity Water owns it. The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust manages it as a wildlife reserve. This means it's a special place for animals and plants. You can only visit it by making an appointment. This reservoir was built in 1953.
The other reservoir is called Aldenham Reservoir. It is located further south. This reservoir is part of Aldenham Country Park. It is open to everyone, and you can find trails and other fun activities there. There is also a sailing club on the water. This reservoir has an interesting history: it was built by French prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars.
