Gaddesden Hall

Gaddesden Hall is a manor house with a complex history, dating back to the late medieval period. The south wing incorporates a late medieval crosswing and hall range rebuilt in the last quarter of the 16th century, likely for Martha Jermyn. An attic storey and a heightened stair were added in the late 17th century. A porch was removed and the crosswing altered for a new entrance in the 20th century. The east wing is a separate 17th-century house that was floored over, brick-cased, and extended northwards in the 20th century. Originally timber-framed, the south wing is now constructed of uncoursed flint with brick dressings, while the east wing is cased in 20th-century red brick. Both wings are roofed with steep old red tiles.

The house is a large, irregular L-shaped building facing north, with two storeys and attics to the south range, accessed via a lower gabled crosswing to the east. The adjoining east range displays a small gable indicating the former hall, with a north crosswing attached to the east side of the south crosswing. The gabled north end of the east range has a window on each floor and a three-shaft chimney. The south range features two-light casement windows to each floor; those on the ground floor are deeper with transoms. A battened door, approached by three steps with side lights and an overlight, leads to the entrance. A tall three-shaft chimney projects from the front wall to the right of the door. A two-storey gabled porch, shown on a drawing from 1832, formerly existed at the right-hand end of the north front of the south range.

The rear of the south range has a large 16th-century chimney stack with three diagonally set square shafts and a plinth course that continues around the stair tower projecting to the east. A corbelled course marks the stair tower’s original height, with a gabled top part added in the 17th century, incorporating two similar chimney shafts.

The interior of the east wing reveals exposed timber framing, chamfered beams, and elaborate 16th-century fireplaces in the south range hall, featuring four-centred arched stone mouldings and vine-scroll spandrels; the parlour has even more elaborate roll-mouldings. An early 18th-century panelled entrance hall has fielded panels and a corner fireplace. The east wing also shows a double-ovolo moulded ceiling beam, a serpentine splat balustrade to the staircase, and evidence of heightening. The main roof is a three-bay structure with clasped purlins and convex-curved wind braces.

Gaddesden Hall was the manor house of the manor of Southall, a sub-manor of Great Gaddesden, first recorded in 1200. It was initially called Southall, then Oliver's Place after Robert Oliver who held it in 1448, before being renamed Gaddesden Hall in the 17th century. It served as a farmhouse until 1914.