Hylands House & Park-Chelmsford | Stylish Neoclassical Mansion in a Superb Green Lung of England.

Hylands House & Park situated in the attractive municipality of Chelmsford are together a fascinating and splendid complex consisting in a stylish neoclassical mansion located in a superb green lung of England part of an environment of immense beauty in the most scenic English countryside in which an unmistakable verdant nature, one of the landmarks of the nation is greatly highlighted by the presence of that architectural masterpiece boasting a relevant historical and cultural value not far from London which is just 50, 0 kilometres away.

Many distinctive attractions as those majestic houses elevated in Great Britain are symbols characterising several stupendous corners of the United Kingdom, a country which in many wonderful huge natural spaces of several of its counties was able to develop those kinds of marvels which furthermore have that notable feature to be greatly preserved.

That magnificent combination composed by architecture and nature is located at the door of Chelmsford, a famous centre of approximately 160,000 inhabitants in the County of Essex well known to have the smallest Cathedral of England but also since ancient times  a very important history to narrate. 
  
According to archaeological excavations in its boundaries were found artifacts of immense value dated the Neolithic and bronze eras and some others closely linked to a a relevant Roman settlement with a fortified structure established in AD 60 and the Imperial Rome in addition elevated that site as a notorious market place calling it Caesaromagus.

The local history was furthermore highlighted in the Middle Ages when it lived a golden period in the 6th century when it was a very important Saxon stronghold and later the British Royalty highlighted the local historic prestige when the notorious Monarch King Henry VIII who strongly loved that town decided to elevate in the 16th century in its territory Beaulieu Palace erected in the current site of New Hall School in Boreham very close to the local boundaries. 

That Institute boasts a relevant prestige and fame, originally founded in Belgium in the 17th century, it had notorious pupils as the famous surrealist painter Leonora Carrington who also lived in Paris well known to have been a figure very close to an important artistic movement extremely active in the French Capital which included popular characters such as André Breton and Joan Miró who were also her  friends, all that before to move to Mexico where she died.

In the course of its historical stages Chelmsford lived times extremely related to a strong industrial boom in the last centuries but at the same time conserving a notable historic patrimony and different parks becoming in a more contemporary era very popular because it was one of the first English towns to emit a radio transmission in the 20's of the 20th century.

That unique  event which had a remarkable resonance all around Britain and abroad is closely linked to the iconic figure of Guglielmo Marconi, that notorious Italian scientist who established in that British centre the first company producing radios in the world in 1898. 

  

For all that and much more that site is highly interesting and I suggest you a visit if you are planning a tailor made Tour around Southern England, a destination boasting a superb past with relevant  attractions and much more if you love nature the chance to admire a territory which offers splendid large verdant environments.

One of them in its immediate outskirts is undoubtedly the wonderful Hylands Park which in a surface area of 574 acres contains that impressive villa called Hylands House.

That immense extension of green meadows and scattered intact forests had in the course of its life a notable development as usual expression in the British culture aimed to preserve but also to value those huge natural verdant spaces and all around its vast area were created a group of ponds, tiny lakes, gardens, grassland and all that encircled by a marvellous intact woodland. 

Apart all those splendid arrangements which gave a new image to an already captivating scenery was erected that stylish neoclassical mansion you can admire nowadays which took the name Hylands from the denomination of the current parkland.

When I visited that place I had great feelings because it is in places like that where you can breathe the atmosphere of the old fascinating England in all its appealing spirit and secular traditions.

All that is in the air transmitting sensations simply unique, an experience which I repeated without hesitations highly suggest to everybody because once there apart the great scenery you will discover an outstanding history which is also what we love to know enjoying a day of very pleasant tourism. 

That beautiful and majestic former noble residence has a to narrate, it was originally built in 1730 becoming in a very short time an important point of interest not only in the immediate surroundings but well known all around Essex and in addition reaching a notable popularity until the borders of Greater London.

Highlighted to have had twelve different owners who in different times loved very much their residence  contributing to create what we can admire nowadays.


The first of them was Sir John Comyns, a famed and wealthy lawyer who purchased that land and commissioned the construction of a former building which originally had a total different image of that one visible today.

The architect who projected the first construction is unknown but he was probably a figure from the local area who designed a structure following the architectural canons in vogue in the 18th century in England represented by the emblematic  Queen Anne style.

That denomination is in honour of that Monarch well known for her brief Reign of just 12 years in the early 18th century and very famous because she was the last Sovereign of the iconic Stuart House predecessor of his cousin King George I who became the first British Monarch member of the German House of Hannover.

That born and bred traditional English movement which was later largely recognised also abroad identified as English Baroque is well known to be highlighted by buildings with huge central triangular pediments on the front sides, high facades with row of painted large windows and outlined stone details.

In addition to all those elements were added steps leading to the main entrance with framed portals, sloping roofs often characterised by the presence of chimneys in civil constructions and a considerable red brick as a main distinctive material used for the development of the constructions which was also that which characterised the elevation of the first former Hylands House.

That movement also became pretty famous because in that period Great Britain had a sort of notable spirit of revival one century later when other styles were predominant in the country but despite that it was able to influence some Nations part of the Commonwealth as Australia where those canons were largely absorbed but with an use of timber replacing in many cases the iron for balconies and railings with more scenic conical and pyramidal turrets combined with the roof and in some cases with a different shape of the windows.

Including it reached other International border as U.S.A where you can see some examples with inspirations linked to that style despite with some differences due to a marked identity of the local artistic school identified in the United States of America as Free Renaissance protagonist of representations of special and eclectic facades much more striking with a major number of architectural elements inserted in the layout of the facade and with monumental turrets and a diverse design of the chimneys.

The traditional Anne Queen style was selected to establish the former mansion of Chelmsford with an execution of perfect lines loyal to the true, canonical original standards respecting the use of brick as predominant material for the construction with the addition of fine stone frames established around the doorways.

A front range of seven windows was developed on the basement and two stories completed the structure designed to reflect a typical image closely related to the pure tradition existing in that time but with an aspect totally different than that one you can currently admire.

Approximately 60 years later the villa was transformed in an elegant and majestic neoclassical masterpiece by a rich Danish merchant called Cornelius Hendrickson Kortright who decided to fix his residence in England for reasons of business deciding to buy that building.

That Scandinavian trader who made his fortune with the commerce of sugar in the West Indies also travelled all around Europe where he was highly influenced and bewitched by that kind of architecture reminiscent the grandeur of the old times linked to the silhouettes of majestic Hellenic structures reproduced in more modern key in stylish mansions and palaces which marked a trend in a new artistic period all around the continent with the advent of the neoclassical style.

That architectural movement had an extreme success in the Nordic countries, Helsinki in Finland is a clear example but also in the motherland of that figure, Denmark, there are some great works as Bernstorff Palace or Eriksholm Castle among others.

In the new project there was also a strong inspiration in some details related to another charismatic and scenic architectural style called Palladian created by that famed artist named Andrea Palladio who as you know established in Italy and concretely in the region Veneto stunning villas.

Those constructions designed by that master who was an eminent, active architect in the Marine Republic of Venice are so famous all around the world for their imposing size, superb fine lines highlighting fabulous high facades boasting  a majestic structural profile, masterpieces which in all their essence were highlighted by a remarkable, defined sense and research of refined aesthetical final results. 

Kortright wanted that and he commissioned the works to a very talented architect called Humphry Repton who started to enlarge and modernise the entire structure and around it was furthermore arranged a garden which had to be an additional attractive detail.

All that was a desire of the owner to complete a new scenery creating all around a more aristocratic environment also in terms of gardened spaces which were becoming in those times more and more trendy as distinctive frames of numerous noble mansions.

The villa was covered by stylish light stuccoes and that architect also developed a portico with four giant Ionic columns which was the last operation linked to the finest Neoclassical, Romantic and Palladian traditional architectural concepts highlighted by a high front side in which was inserted an imposing and scenic central pediment placed on its upper section.

The gray roof was modelled behind that giant element with a group of scattered chimneys, some established in the section above the front side while others were built on the flanks of the central body.

In addition to create a much more glitzy structure were annexed two lower wings bordering the central building and the exterior was completed by a symmetrical row of large rectangular windows.

The layout of the complex is particularly harmonious and every detail was perfectly studied to surprise at first sight with a design which had to generate a high visual impact with that classical aura reflecting the majestic aesthetic image of the ancient Hellenic world greatly  highlighted  by a triumphant entrance.

You will immediately notice that it could be considered reminiscent to a loyal replica of an access of a traditional Greek temple of Attica with giant columns boasting refined big capitals which give for size and height a pompous aspect transmitting an unmistakable air of grandeur to the entire frontal section of the construction.

Once ended that stunning work the former established garden was further enlarged and  Repton to complete a superb operation added a small artificial lake and a walled gardened space with paths transforming that verdant area in a sort of parkland.

In 1815 a Dutch-French merchant and businessman called Pierre Labouchère purchased that sumptuous mansion and just like the previous owner decided to modify more that already vast garden with a plantation of exotic plants, filling several corners by different kinds of flowers all around the building with also fruit and vegetables because that man was in addition an expert horticulturalist.

In the meantime Hylands House had some exterior arrangements but keeping in the most the previous aspect which did not have extreme modifications but just some retouches and easy works of refurbishment mainly devoted to preserve its image.

As the predecessor also that Gentleman was a lover of neoclassical art and he had the brilliant idea to embellish the interior making it more scenic placing inside part of one of his beloved collections.

That addition consisted in a group of sculptures reminiscent replicas of the famed Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen, a famous figure who was the only foreign master who executed a work inside St. Peter Basilica in Vatican with that outstanding work representing the tomb of the Pope Pio VII and those statues dating back the 19th century are still present in the interior of the villa.

Upon Labouchere's death in 1839, that stunning building was acquired for £50,000 by John Attwood, a British ironworks entrepreneur from Birmingham and also that man decided to increase the size of the park commissioning works with operations pretty laborious for the design of a new environment and for that he purchased approximately 3,500 acres of additional land.

That English businessman employed for that transformation an important architect called John Papworth giving him the responsibility of new arrangements of the mansion with a special operation mainly focused to re-build the entire east wing and part of the western from their foundations with the aim to create a suite of grand reception and other rooms with a second large hall devoted to host bedrooms and bathrooms.

That man who was also very busy in political issues due to financial problems sold the villa and the park and he moved to France where he died.

From 1854 to 1904 the complex became a property of Arthur Pryor, an important beer magnate who bought the house which during those years had a partial re-decoration of the interior with a special attention to the large banqueting lounge.

The following owner was Sir Daniel Gooch who rented the villa since 1905 buying it two years later.That gentleman remodelled and modernised his property adding telephones and electricity starting to manage the organisation of events and parties, among them a relevant celebration which saw protagonist the coronation of King George V.

During the 1st World War in Hylands House was established a military hospital, hosting approximately 1,500 injured soldiers and the previously mentioned Monarch with Lord Herbert Kitchener, eminent British Army officer and colonial administrator often visited the troops with the role as provisional hospital ended in 1919.


In 1922 the complex became a property of John and Christine Hanbury, the man sadly died in 1923 and the wife continued to live there with the son Jock, hosting some organisations as the Red Cross.

The mansion was also used for a period as residence of German prisoners of war and base of the 6th Anti-Aircraft Division of the British Army, operations which also continued during the 2nd World War when Hylands House became in 1944 a headquarter of SAS, the special air force of the United Kingdom.
 

That lady was very fond of landscape gardening and she started to re-design that large green area focused to mix art and nature in a sort of creative and eclectic combination including adding a touch of cosmopolitan air with very significant details to her new property.

The first operations consisted in the addition of neoclassical and classical ornaments in rotundas and specific strategic corners but also an exotic oriental touch with the elevation of a small Pagoda reminiscent the Far East, an idea which was successful because was selected a concrete space which did not break the balance of the scenery.

Furthermore during those works a large part of the gardens were developed in French and Italian styles taking as inspiration the magnificent gardened masterrpieces of the Italian lakes and those of the French Côte D´Azur and also that operation had a brilliant success.


In addition to all that you will also see in an area just behind the building highlighted by the presence of some high trees a high totem to pay homage to the Native American Indians, a detail which adds a further exotical appeal.

A large surface area was obviously dedicated to create a typical British environment consisting in very wide spaces of well preserved grass with the presence of rhododendrons planted in different corners, no steps as in a traditional English garden and to complete the arrangement were added to complete and fill that wonderful setting  tiny water channels and paths all around that immense green expanse.

In another section as further attractive feature you will also admire symmetrical rows of trees bordering pleasant and stylish hallways and scenic flower beds with different kinds of plants and flowers.

After the death of Mrs. Hanbury in 1962, aged 89, Chelmsford Borough Council bought Hylands House and Hylands Park in 1966 opening that parkland to the public and many people started to admire a site which is nowadays a pride of that centre, Essex, and England.

Some works of refurbishment took place in 1986 and 1996 with dedication to the Entrance Hall which acquired a magnificent Georgian image and also to other lounges as the Blue Room and Boudoir while in 1999 further operations were managed to the east wing which was totally re-modelled.

The last restoration of the historic landscape made by Repton took place between 2004 and 2007 and those works were financed by HLF, the Heritage Lottery Fund with its headquarter in London.

Today that beautiful villa is a seat devoted to host events, celebrations and weddings, a very famous site well known for its past but also for its great preservation and fascination so it could be an incentive to take in consideration the great opportunity that site offers boasting a superb and stylish Grand Pavillon simply great for layout, refined setting and also in terms of capacity.

Worth a special mention that Hylands Park is also very well known to host an important Music Festival since 1996 which in the last editions saw the participation of important stars such as Lady Gaga and Rhianna among others. Other events of relevance hosted in that site  were the European and World Scout Jamboree respectively in 2005 and 2007.

Also the Film Industry was particularly attracted by the beauty of that complex which in 2004 was used as scene of a romantic comedy movie titled Chasing Liberty, an American production directed by Andy Cadiff, starring Matthew Goode, Mandy Moore, Annabella Sciorra, Caroline Goddall and Mark Harmon and in that film Hylands House doubled US Washington White House. 

Next to the Villa on the left side near the parking you can visit the former Georgian Stables which were totally restored hosting nowadays the New Visitor Centre.

The complex also provides a cafe, a restaurant, two perfect and ideal services for a cool drink or a simple break with a warm cup of tea or coffee but also with the opportunity to taste typical English gastronomic specialities. 

Other environments include interpretation rooms, stabling for horses and you can visit the Art Studies, a small exhibition of modern art displaying Art Deco and Cubism works.  

In addition you can find an artisan shop with local products in which you can buy decorative, ornamental articles, various souvenirs, handcraft items, soaps and other several accessories. 

If you are planning to visit that corner of Southern England that site is very recommended, you can spend there very pleasant times enjoying the view of that stylish architectural masterpiece with its long history and at the same time enjoying a superb green lung of England in a great relaxing walk stopping there after the visit delighted by a delicious meal. 

That site is furthermore pretty suggested for Photographers who can have the opportunity to immortalise an artistic setting greatly combining a more than scenic natural environment surrounding a wonderful neoclassical mansion which is always in its kind something of professionally outstanding also for the historic value of that site.

Also couples who want to find a relaxing corner in a special romantic parkland spending some hours in a space which transmits peace and serenity can find in Hylands Park a perfect destination delighted by stunning views and very appropriate for tourists who want to fill their routes with something of very interesting during a specific planned tailor made tour.

Essex is a beautiful county of England packed by several splendid places to visit and that beautiful complex is highly suggested for all people who love art and nature in a brilliant mix, very appropriate for families with children thanks to the presence of that superb giant green area, a heaven for the young who will be enchanted by those large spaces in a magnificent uncontaminated atmosphere.

Chelmsford with Hylands House & Park is just one hour driving from central London by A13/M25 via Brentwood and from the capital of the United Kingdom you have to follow the indications leading to Ipswich and it is situated not far from Stansted Airport.

That is undoubtedly a great idea as stop if you are planning a Fly & Drive thinking in a specific and attractive itinerary around England especially in its southern side, you could have there a significant stage for a very easy and comfortable final drop off of the vehicle.

There are comfortable Hotels and accommodations in Chelmsford and I suggest you some in some links below. It could be an idea ending your trip with a last overnight including having the chance to admire other many interesting historic local attractions.

You will certainly enjoy that great place, the image of that site in the heart of a fabulous park continuing later to admire the fascination of the inviting English countryside which is in its kind a further brilliant experience returning home also with memories of the country you visited with distinctive and traditional British images, true symbols of a Nation.

Francesco Mari

Recommended Accommodations in Chelmsford

South Lodge Hotel 

Pontlands Park Hotel

The County Hotel

Boswell House Hotel

Useful links

www.chelmsford.gov.uk
www.southlodgehotelchelmsford.co.uk
www.pontlandsparkhotel.co.uk
www.countyhotelchelmsford.co.uk
www.boswellhousehotel.co.uk  
www.hylandsestateweddings.co.uk