Rye House Gate House, Hoddesdon, Herts, UK
Posted by: 
bill&ben
N 51° 46.263 E 000° 00.417
31U E 293500 N 5739812
The Grade 1 listed gatehouse to Rye House, the scene of an unsuccessful plot to assassinate Charles II.
Waymark Code: WMAJZP
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/23/2011
Views: 6
The gatehouse is all that remains of Rye House, one of the first brick buildings in the country. The house was constructed in 1443 by Sir Andrew Ogard, an ex patriot Dane. Of particular interest is the quality of the hand made brickwork, including the barley twist chimney stacks, the oriel windows and diaper work. The brickwork is of such high quality for the time it is believed that the brickwork would have been performed by master craftsmen from Belgium. Whilst the original manor house has disappeared, the plan of the buildings has been marked out by pathwork in the grounds.
Rye House is famous for an assassination attempt on Charles II and his brother the Duke of York. The house would be on the route the King regularly took to Newmarket racecourse. The plan had been to block the road on one of the King’s return trips and kill the party. The plot, however failed when the King returned early from the races after a fire at his estate in Newmarket. The plot was discovered after one of the conspirators confessed, hoping for clemency. Several of the conspirators were executed at the time, however Richard Rumbold, the owner of Rye House, escaped to Holland. Richard Rumbold was later captured in the Scottish rebellion and executed as a traitor.
In the 19th century Rye House was turned into a successful Victorian pleasure park, but later fell into decline as the railways became widespread. It later became a workhouse, a construction yard and even a roller skating rink. In the 1950s the house was gutted by fire. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority restored the building between 1971 and 1992.
Type: Remnant
Fee: No
Hours:
Daylight hours
Related URL: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
Original photographs showing additional views of the Ruin/Remnant or even just its current condition are encouraged. Please describe your visit, especially if no additional photos are available. Did you like the Ruin or Remnant? What prompted you to see the Ruin or Remnant?