North Mymms, near Hatfield
Hertfordshire
England
Circa Date: 16th century w/17th & 18th century alterations and additions
Status: Destroyed
Demolished circa 1838
House Open to Public: No
Country House: Yes
An 1818 engraving of the house from "Neale's Views of Seats"
Earlier Houses: More Hall, the medieval manor house of the More family, was positioned very near the site of the current house.
House & Family History: It's very likely that Sir Thomas More, Henry VIII's ill-fated lord chancellor, wrote "Utopia" at More Hall, as it was then called. Gobions House was visited by Queen Caroline and her three daughters in 1732.
Comments: In the early 18th century the gardens at Gobions were described as second only to Stowe in their beauty.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. II, 1819.
House Listed: Demolished
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: More family, 14th century. SEATED AT 16TH CENTURY HOUSE: Sir Thomas More, 16th century; Basil More, until 1693. Sir Jeremy Sambrooke, 18th century. John Hunter, 1777-1802. Thomas Holmes, early 19th century. Thomas Kemble, 19th century. Robert William Gaussen, 19th century; Gaussen family here until 1923.
Current Ownership Type: Demolished
Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No