Hatfield Church

Hatfield Church is a large country house that sits in the Great Park in the English town of Hatfield. The Church, which is also known as Hatfield House and the Hatfield Palace, dates back to 1611, when it was constructed by Robert Cecil. The house is now something of a living cultural museum, as it is the home of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil and it's also open to the public for tours.

The early history of the Hatfield Church dates back as far as 1497, when a previous version of the house stood on the same property. It was a favourite childhood location of England's Queen Elizabeth I, who spent most of her younger years there. Much of the house's history can be linked to Elizabeth and her brother Edward, who also lived there as a child.

In 1548, the location was home to quite a scene, as Edward IV's agent took the property in order to interrogate all of its inhabitants. Early in that year, it was suspected that Elizabeth had pledged to an illegal marriage with Thomas Seymour. Because of her fast thinking and fast tongue, Elizabeth was cleared of wrongdoing. Seymour was not so lucky, as his "crimes against England" cost him his life later that year.

It is thought that Elizabeth was notified that she was the Queen of England on the grounds at the Hatfield Church. In November of 1558, Queen Elizabeth held a Council of State at a location that is now thought to be Hatfield Church's main hall.

Following the death of Elizabeth, the property was passed on to Robert Cecil. James I, who succeeded Elizabeth, did not particularly care for the home and sold it to the Cecil family, who were called the Theobalds. Soon after receiving the home, Cecil went to work in building it up with its current day brick look. Still, much of the heritage of this property comes from its strong ties to Elizabeth I.

Today, Hatfield Church is a very popular location because of some of the items associated with the Queen. There, tourists can go through the gardens and see the great Queen Elizabeth Oak. In addition, there are numerous other items that belonged to the Queen, including stockings and a pair of gloves.

The elaborate rooms, most of which were improved by Robert Cecil, feature classic Elizabethan art from the time of the queen. The heritage held there reflects much more the presence of the queen rather than that of the current owner, the Cecils.

Original Authors: Coby DuBose
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 22/07/2008