Island Hall

Island Hall in Godmanchester, next to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, is a Georgian mansion from the mid-18th century standing beside the River Great Ouse. It is listed Grade II*, a category reserved for particularly important buildings nationwide. It is a private family home rather than a museum, so check access dates before you travel.

What is Island Hall?

The house went up around 1749 for John Jackson, a county tax official in Huntingdonshire. It sits in the middle of a small market town yet feels like a country seat. The brick front has stone dressings, and the three-storey centre carries a pediment. Inside, look for the Doric columns in the hall, carved panelling and a staircase with twisted balusters.

How has the house changed hands?

Early in the 1800s the Jackson family, weighed down by debt, sold the property to Jacob Julian Baumgartner, a merchant of Swiss descent. His family lived here for generations. In the Second World War the building was requisitioned: the women's auxiliary of the RAF and a Pathfinder squadron were billeted here, with Nissen huts in the grounds. Afterwards the council split it into flats. A fire in 1977 wrecked the south wing, and following another blaze new owners began a thorough restoration. The rooms and garden were returned to their 18th-century character, and family furniture and portraits now fill the interiors.

What is there to see outside?

The formal garden covers roughly one and a half acres and runs down to the river. A Chinese-style bridge leads to a two-acre island, which gives the house its name. It makes a quiet riverside stroll.

Can you visit Island Hall?

The hall is a private residence that opens for guided visits led by a member of the owning family. Historic Houses members pay admission. Dates and booking arrangements change, so confirm them at islandhall.com before you go.

How do you get there?

Godmanchester lies across the river from Huntingdon, about a mile from the centre, and you can walk over from Huntingdon via the old bridge. The town works well as a base for eastern England, on the route between Cambridge and Peterborough.

Frequently asked questions

Is Island Hall open to the public? Only on selected dates and as a guided visit. The current calendar is on the house's website.

When was it built? Around 1749, in the Georgian period.

Can I see the garden without entering the house? The garden is part of the private estate and follows the same access rules, so ask the owners about dates.

What else is nearby? A walk through Godmanchester, with buildings from many eras, and the riverside meadows of Portholme beside Huntingdon.