Old Gorhambury House facts for kids
Old Gorhambury House is a fascinating ruined mansion located near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It's a great example of an early "prodigy house" from the Elizabethan era. A prodigy house was a very large and fancy country home built by important people during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Nicholas Bacon, who was a very important government official called the Lord Keeper, built this house between 1563 and 1568. Queen Elizabeth herself visited the house many times! Today, it's a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site protected by law.
The house was partly built using bricks from the old Abbey buildings in St Albans. These abbey buildings were being taken down about 25 years earlier, after many religious houses were closed down across England. Old Gorhambury House later became the home of Sir Nicholas Bacon's youngest son, Sir Francis Bacon. Francis Bacon was a "polymath," meaning he was good at many different things. He was a scientist, a philosopher, a politician, and a writer. After Francis Bacon passed away, he left the house to his former secretary, Sir Thomas Meautys. Thomas Meautys married Anne Bacon, who was Sir Nicholas's great-granddaughter.
In 1652, the estate passed to Anne's second husband, Sir Harbottle Grimston. He was a judge and also served as the Speaker of the House of Commons in 1660. The Grimston family still owns the estate today. It passed down through generations, eventually reaching William Luckyn, who became the first Viscount Grimston in 1719.
Old Gorhambury House slowly became a ruin after a new house was built nearby in the 1700s. However, its remains were kept as a special feature within the beautiful parkland. What's left today includes a two-story porch, a chapel, and a clock tower.
Exploring the Gardens
Near the River Ver, you can find the "pondyards." These are the remains of a special water garden that was created in the 1600s for Sir Francis Bacon. He might have used older ponds that were already there to create this beautiful garden feature. In 2020, these pondyards were officially protected as an ancient monument.
Visiting Old Gorhambury
The site is looked after by English Heritage, an organization that cares for historic places. It's free to visit, so you can explore the ruins and imagine what life was like there long ago.
The New Gorhambury House
A newer house, also called Gorhambury House, was built nearby between 1777 and 1784. This house was designed in the Palladian style, which is a type of classical architecture known for its grand, balanced look. Sir Robert Taylor designed it for James Bucknall Grimston, 3rd Viscount Grimston. This new house replaced the old one as the family's main home. It is still the home of the Earl of Verulam today.
The current Gorhambury House is part of Historic Houses, an organization that helps preserve historic homes. You can sometimes take tours of the house at certain times of the year.
Images for kids
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South west view of Gorhambury House on March 9, 1827
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