Hatfield House

The present Jacobean house known as Hatfield House is a leading example of the prodigy house, it was built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury and Chief Minister to King James I and has been the home of the Cecil family ever since.
This house has been used for various films 🎥 and was recently used in ‘The Favourite’ 2018 about Queen Anne who was played by actress Olivia Coleman.
Hatfield house currently has the costumes used in the film displayed in the house until 12th June 2019.


I was also greeted by the beautiful painting Known as The Rainbow Portrait Elizabeth I holds a rainbow with the inscription “Non sine sole iris”, “No rainbow without the sun”, reminding viewers only the Queen’s wisdom can ensure peace and prosperity.  However this portrait is full of symbolisms you just need to look 👀 a little closer.


An earlier building on the site was the Royal Palace of Hatfield. Only part of this still exists, a short distance from the present house. The old palace was the childhood home and favourite residence of Queen Elizabeth I. Built in 1497 by the Bishop of Ely, King Henry VII's minister John Cardinal Morton, it comprised four wings in a square surrounding a central courtyard. The palace was seized by Henry VIII with other church properties.

Opposite here lays, the parish church of St Etheldreda's, in Old Hatfield once served the Bishops Palace as well as the village.
Parts of the building are 13th century and there is evidence there was a church here before this in Saxon times.