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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · London

Hilfield Castle

In or near Aldenham.

Georgian♿ Wheelchair: limited

Hilfield Castle — English country estate.

Hilfield Castle, castles in Hertfordshire

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Bushey · 3.6 km
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Hilfield Castle, the nearest railway station is Bushey, located 3.6 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is WD25 8DB. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Hilfield Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1799. Designed by Jeffry Wyatville. Heritage designation: Grade II* listed building. Wikidata describes it as: "English country estate". Coordinates: 51.6536°, -0.3348°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Hilfield Castle, also Hilfield Lodge, is a country estate and house about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Watford and 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Aldenham, in Hertfordshire, on the outskirts of London in the United Kingdom. The estate contains two large reservoirs, one of which was built by French prisoners of war in the 1790s. The grounds now form Aldenham Country Park. To the east is Elstree Aerodrome and the M1 motorway passes to the west.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Chilterns

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Hilfield Castle, also Hilfield Lodge, is a country estate and house about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Watford and 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Aldenham, in Hertfordshire, on the outskirts of London in the United Kingdom. The estate contains two large reservoirs, one of which was built by French prisoners of war in the 1790s. The grounds now form Aldenham Country Park. To the east is Elstree Aerodrome and the M1 motorway passes to the west.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

History

The castle dates to 1798–99, when it was built by architect Jeffry Wyatt for Hon. George Villiers, brother of the earl of Clarendon. to replace Slys Castle. It is a picturesque Gothic design, and the estate includes numerous cottages, barns and a boathouse on the reservoir. Nikolaus Pevsner notes that it is a "castellated, turreted, and cemented house with a gatehouse complete with portcullis". He also notes that the entrance and south sides are symmetrical and that the conservatory is of "ecclesiastical appearance." The turrets have slit windows, which are machicolated and crenellated. Of note is the "octagonal Breakfast Room with a vaulted ceiling and a Gothic conservatory." It became a…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.6536, -0.3348
County
Hertfordshire
District
Hertsmere
Parish
Aldenham
Postcode
WD25 8DB
Parliamentary constituency
Hertsmere
Established
1799
Nearest railway station
Bushey3.6 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Sandy Lane, Bushey - geograph.org.uk - 2237932📷 5

Cemeteries · London

Jewish Cemetery

Jewish Cemetery is a cemetery in the United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Dead tree and pylon, Aldenham - geograph.org.uk - 7974539📷 5

Memorials & monuments · London

Aldenham School Library

Aldenham School Library — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free🐕
Sandy Lane, Bushey - geograph.org.uk - 2237932📷 5

Historic churches · London

United Synagogue

United Synagogue — a church in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free
Caldecote Farm, Bushey Heath - geograph.org.uk - 2667839📷 5

Mountains & hills · London

Caldecote Hill

Caldecote Hill — mountain in england london. Elevation: 155 m.

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Aldenham Memorial Hall - geograph.org.uk - 6344059📷 5

Historic houses · London

Bhaktivedanta Manor

Bhaktivedanta Manor — a Grade II*-listed historic house in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free👶krishnatemple.com
Aldenham Country Park Herts - geograph.org.uk - 23298📷 5

Natural landmarks · London

Petting Barn

Petting Barn — a other in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free🐕👶aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

Where to eat & stay near Hilfield Castle

Places to stay

Watling Street, Elstree - geograph.org.uk - 3130010📷 5

Campsites · London

Home Farm Glamping

Home Farm Glamping — a campsite in england london.

homefarmglamping.com
The Watford Hilton Hotel, A41 - geograph.org.uk - 2284131📷 6

Hotels · London

Hilton London Watford

Hilton London Watford — a hotel in england london.

hilton.com
George V postbox on Brockley Hill - geograph.org.uk - 5317855📷 5

Caravan parks · London

Watling Farm Caravan Site

Watling Farm Caravan Site — a caravan park in england london.

Grim's Dyke Hotel, from the other side - geograph.org.uk - 311187📷 5

Hotels · London

Grim's Dyke Hotel

Grim's Dyke Hotel — a hotel in england london.

Freegrimsdyke.com
Edgwarebury Lane - geograph.org.uk - 2378324📷 5

Campsites · London

Northern Heights

Northern Heights — a campsite in england london.

Palace Theatre on Clarendon Road - geograph.org.uk - 8003184📷 5

Hostels · London

YMCA

YMCA — a hostel in england london.

Places to eat & drink

Entrance to Bushey Country Club - geograph.org.uk - 3312380📷 5

Historic pubs · London

Horse And Chains Public House

Horse And Chains Public House in England London, United Kingdom.

Crossing The Hazard - geograph.org.uk - 2374739📷 5

Historic pubs · London

The Waggon And Horses Public House

The Waggon And Horses Public House in England London, United Kingdom.

Lych-gate, St Nicholas Church, Elstree - geograph.org.uk - 4941847📷 5

Historic pubs · London

The Holly Bush

The Holly Bush in England London, United Kingdom.

Entrance to farm on Watling Street, Radlett - geograph.org.uk - 2304226📷 5

Historic pubs · London

The Cat And Fiddle Public House

The Cat And Fiddle Public House in England London, United Kingdom.

The Harlequin Centre, Beechen Road, Watford - geograph.org.uk - 3117879📷 5

Historic pubs · London

The One Crown Public House

The One Crown Public House in England London, United Kingdom.

Anthony Joshua's Gold Postbox, Watford - geograph.org.uk - 3312299📷 7

Restaurants · London

Las Iguanas

Las Iguanas — a restaurant in england london. Cuisine: latin american. Brand: Las Iguanas.

Freeiguanas.co.uk

Other works by Jeffry Wyatville

Windsor Great Park - geograph.org.uk - 61706📷 5

Historic houses · South East England

Royal Lodge

Royal Lodge — a Grade II*-listed historic house in england-south-east, United Kingdom.

👶thedicamillo.com
The entrance to Coworth Park, Blacknest - geograph.org.uk - 4769266📷 5

Castles · South East England

Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere — castle in england south east.

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Museums · South West England

American Museum and Gardens

American Museum and Gardens — culture and arts museum near Bath, England, United Kingdom.

Grade I👶americanmuseum.org
St Michael's Church📷 3

Historic churches · North West England

St Michael's Church

St Michael's Church — church in Marbury, Cheshire UK.

Freeachurchnearyou.com

Other castles from this era

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Castles · South East England

Tankerton Castle

Tankerton Castle — castellated manor house in Whitstable, Kent, UK.

Free👶whitstablecastle.co.uk
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Castles · South West England

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Castles · South West England

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Castles · East Midlands

Alton Castle

Alton Castle — Gothic-revival castle south of the river Churnet in the village of Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK.

👶govserv.org

More castles in this region

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Lullingstone Castle

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👶lullingstonecastle.co.uk
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Baynard's Castle

Baynard's Castle — buildings on two neighbouring sites in London.

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Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin — Public artwork (statue).

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Castles · London

Eynsford Castle

Eynsford Castle — castle, now ruinous, in Eynsford, Kent, England, UK.

FreeGrade I👶english-heritage.org.uk

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hilfield Castle?
Hilfield Castle is in Hertfordshire, London, United Kingdom (postcode WD25 8DB), in the parish of Aldenham.
What is Hilfield Castle?
Hilfield Castle — English country estate.
How do I get to Hilfield Castle?
The nearest railway station is Bushey, about 3.6 km away. Drivers can use postcode WD25 8DB.
When was Hilfield Castle built?
Built or established in 1799. Designed by Jeffry Wyatville.
Is Hilfield Castle a listed building?
Hilfield Castle is officially recognised as Grade II* listed building listed.
Is Hilfield Castle a protected site?
Yes — Hilfield Castle is part of the Chilterns National Landscape (AONB).
Does Hilfield Castle charge admission?
Hilfield Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
How do I get to Hilfield Castle?
The nearest railway station is Bushey, about 3.6 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode WD25 8DB.