History - Sopwell House
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History

A 17th Century Georgian Country House..

The earliest reference to Sopwell House is found in a deed of 1603, which makes reference to the house as the newly built ‘New Barnes’ Home to Richard Sadlier. Little is known about the intervening period until 1665 when the Duchess Alice/Alicia, a member of the illustrious Dudley family, took up residence during the great plague and fire of London. The name New Barnes is still in use locally today with ‘New Barnes Mill’ and its bridge situated nearby.

In 1670 the house was bought by Sir Harbottle Grimston, Earl of Verulam, owner of the Gorhambury estate. Gorhambury was built by Sir Richard Lee on the ruins of the Sopwell Nunnery which became the possession of Francis Bacon, the 1st Baron of Verulam. The Sopwell Nunnery is believed to have been where Anne Boleyn took refuge following her return from France and where her secret marriage to King Henry VIII took place.

At the beginning of the 18th Century, Edward Strong, a Master Mason known to have worked on St. Paul’s Cathedral, leased the house and it is assumed that he developed the house further during his tenure. In 1901 Admiral of the Fleet, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Father of Louis and Alice, leased the house as his family’s country home. Louis, later Lord Mountbatten of Burma, was the last Governor of India. Alice married Prince Andrew of Greece and was the mother of Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh. It is believed that Prince Andrew proposed to Alice in the gardens of Sopwell House.

As part of the Verulam estate, Sopwell House was used by members of the family until the end of the Second World War when it became a home for the aged before its conversion in 1969 to a hotel. The present owner, Abraham Bejerano, purchased the property in 1986 and has sensitively developed and updated the facilities taking immense care to retain the character and charm of the original Georgian house.

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Sopwell House
Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 2HQ
+44 (0) 1727 864477
enquiries@sopwellhouse.co.uk
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    Telephone lines

    Please note that our reservations team are dealing with an unprecedented demand for bookings and general enquiries for our Blue Monday sale, and as such our phone lines are very busy. The best deals are on our web-site, click the button below to go through to our sale page.

    We appreciate this can be frustrating, but please do bear with us.

    Blue Monday Deals

    Weekend 14th -16th May - Alfresco Dining

    Please note we are open this weekend and have spaces available for Alfresco dining at Sopwell House.

    ** IF WE EXPERIENCE RAIN WE WILL CLOSE THE TERRACE AREA AND HAVE DINING AVAILABLE IN UNDER THE COVER OF THE MARQUEE**

    Walk-in diners are welcome, we have 90 seats on the terrace and 50 in the marquee. Guests can now book Afternoon Tea and Dinner under the cover of the marquee. See link below.

    We do have heaters in the marquee on the front lawn, but guests are welcome to bring blankets if they would like. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend blankets.

    Terrace Dining

    11th May - Alfresco Dining

    Please note we are open and have spaces available today for Alfresco dining at Sopwell House.

    ** IF WE GET RAIN WE WILL CLOSE THE TERRACE AND JUST HAVE DINING AVAILABLE IN THE MARQUEE**

    Guests can now book Afternoon Tea and Dinner under the cover of the marquee. See link below. Walk-in diners are still welcome, we have 90 seats on the terrace and 50 in the marquee.

    We do have heaters in the marquee on the front lawn, but guests are welcome to bring blankets if they would like. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend blankets.

    Terrace Dining

    Alfresco Dining - 12th May

    Please note we are open and have spaces available today for Alfresco dining at Sopwell House.

    ** IF WE GET RAIN WE WILL CLOSE THE TERRACE AND JUST HAVE DINING AVAILABLE IN THE MARQUEE**

    Guests can now book Afternoon Tea and Dinner under the cover of the marquee. See link below. Walk-in diners are still welcome, we have 90 seats on the terrace and 50 in the marquee.

    We do have heaters in the marquee on the front lawn, but guests are welcome to bring blankets if they would like. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend blankets.

    Terrace Dining

    Alfresco Dining - 13th May

    Please note we are open and have spaces available today for Alfresco dining at Sopwell House.

    ** IF WE GET RAIN WE WILL CLOSE THE TERRACE AND JUST HAVE DINING AVAILABLE IN THE MARQUEE**

    Guests can now book Afternoon Tea and Dinner under the cover of the marquee. See link below. Walk-in diners are still welcome, we have 90 seats on the terrace and 50 in the marquee.

    We do have heaters in the marquee on the front lawn, but guests are welcome to bring blankets if they would like. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend blankets.

    Terrace Dining

    Alfresco Dining - 10th May

    Please note we are open and have spaces available on the 27th April for Alfresco dining at Sopwell House. ** PLEASE NOTE DUE TO THE RAIN EXPECTED IN THE MORNING THE TERRACE WILL BE CLOSED**

    Walk-in diners are welcome, we have over 90 seats on the terrace and 50 in the marquee.

    We do have heaters in the marquee on the front lawn, but guests are welcome to bring blankets if they would like. Due to COVID, we are unable to lend blankets.

    Guests can now book Afternoon Tea and Dinner under the cover of the marquee. See link below.

    Terrace Dining