DiCamillo Companion
England

Bayfordbury House

  • Built / Designed For: Sir William Baker

    House & Family History: The library features a large Egyptian granite chimneypiece with male Egyptian caryatids presented by Fagin to William Baker in 1812.

    Collections: The contents of Bayfordbury were sold and dispersed after World War II.

  • Garden & Outbuildings: In 1969 the Bayfordbury Observatory was founded on the estate by Hatfield Polytechnic (now the University of Hertfordshire). Today the university's astronomical and atmospheric physics remote sensing observatory, it is one of the largest teaching astronomical observatories in Britain.

  • Architect: Robert Taylor

    Date: 1759-62
    Designed: House for Sir William Baker, Sr.
    (Attribution of this work is uncertain)
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    Architect: Francis Aldhouse

    Date: 1809-12
    Designed: Remodeled house in Greek Revival style for William Baker, Jr.

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  • John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 49, 1854.

    Country Life: Jan 17, 23, 1925, Francis Aldhouse, 1809-1812, remodeling for William Baker.

  • Title: Greek Revival, The
    Author: Crook, J. Mordaunt
    Year Published: 1995
    Publisher: London: John Murray
    ISBN: 0719554551
    Book Type: Softback

    Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
    Author: Colvin, Howard
    Year Published: 2008
    Reference: pgs. 63, 1027
    Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
    ISBN: 9780300125085
    Book Type: Hardback

    Title: Apollo (magazine)
    Author: NA
    Year Published: NA
    Reference: October 1972
    Publisher: London: Apollo Magazine Ltd.
    ISBN: NA
    Book Type: Magazine

  • House Listed: Grade II*

    Park Listed: Grade II

  • Past Seat / Home of: Sir William Baker, Sr., 1760-70; William Baker, Jr., 1770-1824. Admiral Sir Lewis Clinton-Baker, until 1940.

    Current Ownership Type: School

    Primary Current Ownership Use: School

    Ownership Details: Today the University of Hertfordshire's biology and geography department, including the Regional Science Learning Centre.

  • House Open to Public: No

    Website: https://www.herts.ac.uk/

    Historic Houses Member: No