Rye House Gatehouse, Rye House Quay, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts, EN11 0EH
Tel: 01992 702200
Rye House Gatehouse was one of the first brick built buildings in the country. The house formed the hub of what was a large estate for its time. Rye House is also known as one of the finest medieval moated sites in Hertfordshire.
It is also an important place in the countries history, the Rye House Plot – the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Charles II. In its time the Gatehouse has been a workhouse and a place in the Victoiran era where people came to enjoy landscaped gardens, banquets and the delights of the countryside.
Rye House has had a varied and vibrant history. Habitation of the area can be traced back as far as Saxon times and there being a settlement on the site known then as 'atter eye' Saxon for 'at the island'.
It is most noted for the construction of a fortified manor house on 'the Island of Rye' by Sir Andrew Ogard an ex-patriot Dane in 1443. It is one of the first buildings constructed using brick in this country and the house formed the hub of what was a large estate for its time. Rye House is also known as one of the finest medieval moated sites in Hertfordshire and is a Grade I listed building.
Inside the building there is a staffed information point and visitors can discover the history of the Gatehouse through various displays. There is also a a winding staircase which takes you to a viewing platform where you can take a close look at a fine example of a “Barley Sugar” chimney, along with views looking over the Lee and Stort valleys.
Nearby on the River Lee Navigation is Rye House Quay. Once a chandler’s yard, it has been re-developed to provide mooring for boats and an area for informal recreation.
Click here to see a walk through video of Rye House Gatehouse.
The video shows you around the Gatehouse, inside and out, plus includes views from the roof.
Rye House Gatehouse Interior
Rye House Gatehouse is a grade 1 listed building. What stands on the site today is all that remains of one of the first brick buildings in the country,a building of high status for its time. The quality of the brickwork including the diaper work, Oriels windows, gargoyles and 'Barley Sugar' Chimney puts it in a class of its own compared to many other buildings constructed at that time.
External Area of the Gatehouse
The external area of the site is very accessible. As part of the landscape re- development new tar spray and chip type paths have been laid. Dropped kerbs have been installed from the car park and from Rye Road and the area surrounding the site is fairly level.
Interior of the Gatehouse
The entrance to the buildling is via a set of large double wooden doors set level giving good access to the ground floor.
The two rooms off the ground floor and the access way to the steps up to the first floor are narrow and low, being built to the needs and skills of the builders at the time and may cause difficulty if accessed with buggies/wheelchairs.
The staircase to the first floor room and top viewpoint are steep, narrow and winding. Care needs to be taken when using them.
While little can be done to improve access to the first floor and viewing platform at the top of the house for people with severe disability the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are looking into the possibility of providing interactive C.C.T.V. to allow those unable to reach these area an opportunity to review them remotely.
Directions
Location information
Directions
Bus
Trustline Bus service – C3 stops nearby on Old Highway.
Car
Nearest M25 Junction – 25
Nearest M11 Junction - 27
Pedestrians
Rye House Gatehouse can be access from The River Lee Navigation Towpath and New River Walk.
Train
The nearest train station is Rye House on the Hertford East Branch Line (London Liverpool Street to Cambridge Mainline).
Turn right out of the station onto Rye Road, Rye House Gatehouse is on the left hand side approximately 400 Yards / 366 Meters from the station, passing the Rye House Public House on your left. As you approach the gatehouse follow a hard surfaced footpath on the left hand side of Rye Road passing under two rows of Horse Chestnut Trees.
