Built / Designed For: Halsey family

House & Family History: Though the design of the house and stables have traditionally been attributed to James Wyatt, recent research by John Martin Robinson is his 2012 book, "James Wyatt, 1746-1813: Architect to George III," indicates Wyatt may only have done the interiors. If, in fact, Wyatt designed the house, it is his earliest dated work. The conservatory was added in 1881. Gaddesden Place was gutted by fire in February of 1905; in 1908 the Halsey family commissioned Cole Adams to rebuild the house within the old, burned-out shell. In 1955 the north pavilion and quadrant link were demolished and two fireplaces were removed and installed in the Golden Parsonage. Circa 1963 the east wall of the quadrant was found to be infested with dry rot and was demolished. In 1983, when he was 23 years old, computer whiz Charles Moir, founder of Computer Concepts and owner of Xara Group Ltd., a private company, purchased Gaddesden Place and eight acres of the estate. Today Moir uses the most of the house as his private residence, with the south wing (i.e., pavilion) occupied by his corporate headquarters. The south wing was recently restored and enlarged (two new floors were added).

Garden & Outbuildings: The Grade II-listed stables, with attached walled enclosures, are extant, and serve today as a riding school. Like the house, the stables were probably designed by James Wyatt in the mid-18th century. Though the Halsey family sold the house, they kept the neighboring estate, which they continue to own and manage.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

"Man of Evil" (1944). "Fanny by Gaslight" (1944). "Attack on the Iron Coast" (1968). "Wynne and Penkovsky" [aka "The Man from Moscow"] (1985 – TV). "The Detective" (1985 -TV series). "Gothic" (1986). "Pulaski" [aka "Pulaski: The TV Detective"] (1987 - TV series). "The Lair of the White Worm" (1988). "Just Ask for Diamond" [aka "Diamond's Edge"] (1988). "Jeeves and Wooster" (1993 - TV series, in the episode "Lady Florence Craye Arrives in New York" [aka "The Once and Future Ex"], Haddesden was the New York home of Lord Worplesden). "Hidden Agenda" (1990). "A Kiss Before Dying" (1991). "Sharpe's Eagle" (1993 - TV). "Lady Chatterley" (1993 - TV). "Fanny Hill" (1995). "Jonathan Creek" (1997 – TV series, in the episode "Satan's Chimney"). "Basil" (1998). "Hunting Venus" (1999 - TV). "Foyle's War" (2002 - TV series, as the Gascoigne family home in the episode "A Lesson in Murder"). "Little Britain" (2003 - TV series). "The Deal" (2004). "Hustle" (2004 - TV series, in the episode "A Touch of Class"). "Friends and Crocodiles" (2005 - TV movie, as Paul Reynolds's indoor swimming pool). "Inspector Lewis" (2006 – TV series, as the Griffon family home in the episode "Reputation"). "Midsomer Murders" (2012 - TV series, as the Denning family home in the episode "Murder of Innocence"). "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016). "Slaughterhouse Rulez" (2018). "Ghost" (2019). "The Current War" (2019).

Current Seat / Home of: Charles Moir; here since 1983.

Past Seat / Home of: Halsey family, here from the 18th until the 20th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use

Ownership Details: Today the private home of Charles Moir and corporate headquarters for Moir's companies, Computer Payroll Solutions and Xara Group Ltd. The house is available for filming.

House Open to Public: Limited Access

Website: http://gaddesdenplace.com

Historic Houses Member: No