Great Nast Hyde,Including Front Garden Wall

Great Nast Hyde is a historic country house near Hatfield in Hertfordshire, within the Welwyn Hatfield district. A 17th-century manor, it is a Grade II listed building. It remains a private property, so it is best appreciated from the outside and as part of the surrounding landscape.

What kind of building is it?

The oldest part dates from the early to mid 1600s. The heritage listing describes a two-storey manor with attics, built of red brick with stone dressings under a plain tile roof. In the 20th century a western extension was added in a matching manner, which is why the house reads as one coherent whole.

The listing also covers the front garden wall, which explains the long official name. The house was first listed in 1966 and the entry was revised in 1983.

What will you see?

The south front has five bays of windows, projecting gables at each end and a central gable above the attic windows. A two-storey gabled porch shelters the entrance, framed by a doorcase with Doric pilasters. On the roof sits a timber bell cupola with a lead covering, and a 17th-century chimney stack with three joined shafts rises along the ridge.

Inside, the listing records a generous open-well staircase with tall newel posts in the east wing, a moulded stone fireplace surround on the first floor and stone-arched doorways in a corridor. None of these are open to the public.

Can you go inside?

No. Great Nast Hyde is not a museum or a visitor attraction. When the listing was last updated, the house was in use as a British Aerospace residence. Please respect the owners' privacy and stay off the grounds.

What else is nearby?

Next door stands Torilla, a modernist house of 1935 designed by F. R. S. Yorke, conceived as a deliberate contrast to its traditional neighbour. Two very different eras side by side make a rewarding stop for architecture enthusiasts. The heritage register also lists two other Grade II buildings in the area, The Cottage at Great Nast Hyde and Nast Hyde Farmhouse.

How do you get there?

The house lies on the edge of Hatfield, around Nast Hyde and Little Heath, roughly 20 km north of central London. The easiest approach is by car or taxi from Hatfield railway station, which has regular trains from London. From there, take a walk along the surrounding roads and paths, keeping in mind that fencing and greenery may limit the view of the house.

Frequently asked questions

Is Great Nast Hyde open to visitors? No, it is a private residence with no regular public access.

How old is the house? The oldest section dates from the early to mid 17th century, and the west wing was added in the 20th century.

What heritage status does it have? Grade II listed, including its front garden wall.

What can I see nearby? Torilla, the 1935 modernist house that deliberately contrasts with the traditional manor.