Places features

Hylands House was built for Sir John Comyns as a red brick Queen Ann style mansion in 1730, set in an estate comprising 100 acres of landscaped parkland and 300 acres of farmland.

Newly restored Pleasure Gardens

Celebrated English landscape designer Humphrey Repton was involved in changes to the house and the landscape during the ownership of Cornelius Kortright (1797 to 1815).

In 1815 it was again sold, this time to Pierre Laboucherre (1814-1839), a partner with Hope & Company of Amsterdam.  It is thought that the wings and colonnaded portico were added to the house in the early 1800s.

Home to two Suffolk Punch Horses

A keen horticulturalist, he created the formal Pleasure Gardens and constructed a magnificent 300 foot glass house, within which to grow his own plants.  He also commissioned the Stables, which were built of red brick and housed servants in loft rooms on the first floor, with stables, carriage and tack rooms on the ground floor along with the coachman's cottage.

The wealthy entrepreneur, John Attwood, who owned the house between 1839 and 1858 added another storey on top of the main block and also on each of the wings in the 1840s.

Some of the walls of the house were rebuilt during this work and the portico was made deeper in order that carriages could alight directly in front of the entrance.

Decorated in a neo-baroque style

During its history, Hylands has had nine private owners, each keen to stamp their mark on the house and estate, extending and remodelling according to their tastes and the fashion of the day.

Mrs Christine Hanbury was the last owner (1923 to 1962).  Her husband died before they moved in, but Christine and her son Jock continued to live in the house - even during World War II when the House was used as the Head Quarters of the SAS.

Mrs Hanbury continued to live in the house until her death in 1962.  The house stood empty for several years, where it suffered damage from fire and vandalism.  Chelmsford Borough Council bought Hylands in 1966 and immediately opened the park to the public.

Restoration of the House

A limited restoration programme was started in 1986, mainly on the exterior of the House.  The East Wing restoration was completed in 1999, the West Wing restoration was completed in 2003.

The Library, Drawing Room, Saloon, Boudoir, Blue Room and Entrance Hall were completed in 1999.

The West Wing corridor has a new black and white marble flag floor similar to the original, and it matches the floor in the Entrance Hall.

The Stables converted to visitor centre

Above the doorway into the Entrance Hall is a plaster roundel, showing cherubs playing musical instruments, which has been recreated from photographic evidence. 

The small Dining Room is part of the original Georgian house dating from 1730.  The original Adam style fireplace was lost and photographs had to be used to recreate the present one.

The neo-baroque Banqueting Room and Drawing Room have been restored to their early Victorian splendour.

The final phase of restoration in the House was completed in September 2005, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Restoration of the Estate

A large amount of work has gone into restoring the historic landscape of Hylands Park. Work started in 2004 and was completed in 2007, it was financed by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £3.4 million and by the Council.

The original 'Widford Approach' drive has been reinstated for pedestrians and cyclists, providing beautiful framed views of the estate, before finally revealing the house itself. Repton's spectacular views of the lake from the house can now also be enjoyed, especially from the Repton room located with Hylands house. 

Local artists can hire the studio space

The Georgian stables have been restored and converted into The Stables which includes a new visitor centre, craft studios, gift shop, cafe, interpretation rooms, education room and stabling for horses.

The Home Farm buildings have been restored and adapted for storage and offices for the Grounds Maintenance team.  There is some public access to view some large stables.

Flint Cottage, a former gamekeeper's cottage and now derelict, has been brought back to its original appearance and is now used as a store to support the Council's events in the park.