Some historic photos of Gaddesden Place
Exterior Photos
A rare photo of the now-missing North Wing.
The drive up to house showing a collection of large beach trees, a few of which still existed in 1984, but all of
which have now fallen. Most significantly this shows the complete and intact north wing, which contained the
original kitchens, and the adjoining connecting corridor. I believe this was demolished in the 1955 due to dry-
rot. This photo was used when we re-built the south wing in this exact same style in the 1990’s.
A photo taken immediately after the fire, showing the library windows. You can see right through the top
windows to the sky showing the whole of the interior was destroyed. You can see the stone window
surrounds are badly damaged and we believe this was when they were replaced with bath stone (which being
a more yellow colour is not in keeping with the rest of the house which is Totternhoe stone). The stone facing
on the whole of this wall was replaced in 2001 with new Totternhoe Stone.
You can just see the stone pot between the windows. This survived until the early 2000s when it, and the
corresponding one on the other side, was stolen.
The gallery was not affected by the fire, but was demolished in the 1950s. We restored it in the 1990’s and
this photo was used to ensure the recreation of the new stone window surrounds and balustrade were a
faithful reproduction of the original.
The Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward VIII (of Edward and Mrs Simpson fame) came to the house in
1926 and planted a tree on the north side of the house (gales in 2019 demolished what we think was the
tree). This is a very poor quality image but it’s just possible to discern the prince. On the right is a better
photo which also shows Sir Frederick Halsey who lived at Gaddesden Place at the time.
A rare view of the north side of the house showing the curving corridor that connects the north wing to the
main building. This was demolished in the late 1950s apparently due to dry rot. Interestingly both wings
survived the 1905 fire, and it’s perhaps because of this that they succumbed to dry rot, being constructed
largely of wood internally. The main house, re-built after the fire, was build using ‘modern’ Victorian concrete
and steel.
An enlarged view of the previous photo. You can just see the gravel path going across the lawn. The cedar
tree on the left edge still stands. The present building has an ugly set of drain pipes going down this side of
the building.
Amazing aerial photograph. Not sure when this was taken, but it must have been in the 1940s or early 50s
because both wings are present and these were demolished in the mid 1950s. It also shows the gravel paths
extending both sides of the house. Many of the large trees seen occupying the park have since been lost.
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
One of the earliest photos
ever taken, in 1855, not
many years after
photography was invented.
This was before the
conservatory was built, and
on the right side you can
just see that something is
where the conservatory is
presently standing, but is
not exactly the
conservatory.
The handwriting describes
this as Gaddesden Park,
which is the old name for
Gaddesden Place.
Some historic photos of Gaddesden Place
Exterior Photos
A rare photo of the now-missing North Wing.
The drive up to house showing a collection of large beach
trees, a few of which still existed in 1984, but all of which have
now fallen. Most significantly this shows the complete and
intact north wing, which contained the original kitchens, and
the adjoining connecting corridor. I believe this was
demolished in the 1955 due to dry-rot. This photo was used
when we re-built the south wing in this exact same style in the
1990’s.
A photo taken immediately after the fire, showing the library
windows. You can see right through the top windows to the
sky showing the whole of the interior was destroyed. You can
see the stone window surrounds are badly damaged and we
believe this was when they were replaced with bath stone
(which being a more yellow colour is not in keeping with the
rest of the house which is Totternhoe stone). The stone facing
on the whole of this wall was replaced in 2001 with new
Totternhoe Stone.
You can just see the stone pot between the windows. This
survived until the early 2000s when it, and the corresponding
one on the other side, was stolen.
The gallery was not affected by the fire, but was demolished in
the 1950s. We restored it in the 1990’s and this photo was
used to ensure the recreation of the new stone window
surrounds and balustrade were a faithful reproduction of the
original.
The Prince of Wales, later to be King Edward VIII (of Edward
and Mrs Simpson fame) came to the house in 1926 and
planted a tree on the north side of the house (gales in 2019
demolished what we think was the tree). This is a very poor
quality image but it’s just possible to discern the prince. The
second is a better photo which also shows Sir Frederick Halsey
who lived at Gaddesden Place at the time.
A rare view of the north side of the house showing the curving
corridor that connects the north wing to the main building.
This was demolished in the late 1950s apparently due to dry
rot. Interestingly both wings survived the 1905 fire, and it’s
perhaps because of this that they succumbed to dry rot, being
constructed largely of wood internally. The main house, re-
built after the fire, was build using ‘modern’ Victorian concrete
and steel.
An enlarged view of the previous photo. You can just see the
gravel path going across the lawn. The cedar tree on the left
edge still stands. The present building has an ugly set of drain
pipes going down this side of the building.
Amazing aerial photograph. Not sure when this was taken, but
it must have been in the 1940s or early 50s because both
wings are present and these were demolished in the mid
1950s. It also shows the gravel paths extending both sides of
the house. Many of the large trees seen occupying the park
have since been lost.
Click on the photo to see an enlarged version.
One of the earliest photos ever taken, in 1855, not many years
after photography was invented.
This was before the conservatory was built, and on the right
side you can just see that something is where the
conservatory is presently standing, but is not exactly the
conservatory.
The handwriting describes this as Gaddesden Park, which is
the old name for Gaddesden Place.