DiCamillo Companion
England

Balls Park

Near Hertford

Hertfordshire

England

Circa Date: 1638-42 w/18th, 19th, 20th & 21st century alterations and additions

Status: Fully Extant

House Open to Public: No

Country House: Yes

This house has been used for TV and Film

The lodge from a 1909 postcard

  • Built / Designed For: Sir John Harrison

    House & Family History: From 1947 until 1980 the house served as the Balls Park Teacher Training College; from 1980 until 2002 Balls Park was the Hertford campus of the University of Hertfordshire. In the summer of 2003 the university announced that Balls Park had been sold to property developers, who planned to convert the house into flats and build 132 new homes in the grounds. The developers, City & Country, demolished the 1960s college buildings and, between 2008 and 2010, created 40 flats in the house, the Coach House, and the stables. Balls has traditionally been cited as one of the houses that may have inspired Jane Austen when she was writing "Pride and Prejudice."

  • Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds today comprise 64 acres and include the Balls Park Cricket Ground (first match played in 1865), home of the Hertford Cricket Club.

  • Architect: Nicholas Stone

    Date: 1638-42
    Designed: House for Sir John Harrison
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Robert Stodart Lorimer

    Date: 1920s
    Designed: Alterations and additions for Sir Benjamin Faudel-Phillips

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    Architect: Rowland William Backhouse

    Date: 1786
    Designed: Altered House for Dowager Viscountess Townsend
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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  • Country Life: XXXI, 578 plan, 1912.

  • Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 2008
    Reference: pgs. 86, 991
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 9780300125085
    Book Type: Hardback

  • House Listed: Grade I

    Park Listed: Grade II

  • "Foyle's War" (2004 - episode 3.2, "Enemy Fire," as some hospital interiors). "Popetown" (2005 - TV series). "Bleak House" (2005 - TV series, interiors only). "Amazing Grace" (2006). "Wild Child" (2008). "The Young Victoria" (2009).

  • Past Seat / Home of: Sir John Harrison, 1640-69; Richard Harrison, 1669-1726; Edward Harrison, 1726-32; George Harrison, 1732-59. Etheldreda, Viscountess Townshend, 1759-88; Lord John Townshend, early 19th century. Sir George Faudel Faudel-Phillips, 1st Bt., until 1922; Sir Benjamin Faudel-Phillips, 2nd Bt., 1922-27; Faudel-Phillips family here from the late 19th century until 1946.

    Current Ownership Type: Flat Owners Company / Condo Association

    Primary Current Ownership Use: Flats / Multi Family

  • House Open to Public: No

    Historic Houses Member: No

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