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 The House |
The State Rooms are rich in famous paintings, fine furniture, tapestries and historic armour. Superb examples of Jacobean craftsmanship can be seen throughout Hatfield House, such as the Grand Staircase, with its wealth of lively detail carved in wood, and the rare stained glass window in the private chapel. In the extensive and beautiful garden is the surviving wing of the Royal Palace of Hatfield (circa. 1485). It is here that Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood. In November 1558, following the death of her sister Mary Tudor, Elizabeth held her first Council of State in the Great Hall, where corporate and private parties, mariage ceremonies and wedding receptions, banquets and other events are held throughout the year.
Displayed in the House are many historic mementos collected over the centuries by the Cecils, one of England’s foremost political families. The Third Marquess of Salisbury was three times Prime Minister during the closing years of Queen Victoria’s reign, when the British Empire was at the height of its power and influence.
To see the State Rooms visitors can either look around in their own time or come on a thursday when they can join a guided tour.
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