An 1818 hand-colored engraving of the house from "Excursions in the County of Essex"
House & Family History: John Wright rebuilt Hatfield Priory between 1768 and 1770, though who the architect was for this work is uncertain. The Marianhill Mission Society, a religious order of men in the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to preaching the word of god in foreign missions, purchased the house in 1935. A speculator purchased Hatfield Priory in 1972 and removed the outbuildings, and, for a brief time, the house was used as a school. Hatfield was purchased in 1979 by the Cowell family, who saved it from dereliction and did significant restoration work. In April of 2006 Hatfield Priory was listed for sale for £3.25 million.
Garden & Outbuildings: Richard Woods landscaped the grounds in the 1760s and 1770s. A speculator purchased the estate in 1972 and removed the outbuildings. The current owners have restored the gardens to Woods's original designs and have built a new Gothick Summerhouse that incorporates fragments from a ruined folly at Wardour Castle.
Architect: John Phillips
Date: 1768-70
Title: Burke's & Savills Guide to Country Houses, Volume III: East Anglia
Author: Kenworthy-Browne, John; Reid, Peter; Sayer, Michael; Watkin, David
Year Published: 1981
Publisher: London: Burke's Peerage
ISBN: 0850110351
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Georgian: The Magazine of the Georgian Group, The
Author: NA
Year Published: NA
Reference: January 1999, pg. 14
Publisher: London: The Georgian Group
ISBN: NA
Book Type: Magazine
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: Alleyn family, mid-16th century until 1766. Wright family, 1766-1928. Charles Tennant, 1928-35 (rented from 1912). Cowell family, 1979-2006.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No