Rye House Quay, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 0EH
Rye House Gatehouse
Gatehouse
Place photograph
6.8
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Check
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
6.8A rare survivor from the manor of Rye House, this brick gatehouse is associated with a 1683 plot to assassinate Charles II and his brother James. Its carved brickwork and spiral chimney still give clues to the lost estate.
Rye House Gatehouse earns its place for an unusually tangible blend of medieval architecture and political intrigue: the surviving gateway, decorated brickwork and marked-out house foundations make a short visit feel like exploring the outline of a vanished manor.
Atmospheric · Historic
Find your way
Open mapRye House Quay, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 0EH
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Plan around a selected opening day. See the gatehouse and its brick details, then look across the grounds for the marked outline of the former house. Check the official visitor information before setting out.
Things to do
Inspect the spiral chimney
Look for the distinctive spiral chimney, described by a visitor as a highlight and by a local-history account as a barley-sugar-style feature.
5–10 minutes
Find the outline of the vanished house
Look across the grounds for the marked outline of the former house and the positions of its rooms.
10–15 minutes
Look closely at the brick decoration
Examine the patterned brickwork and carved faces and grotesque details on the gatehouse.
5–10 minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
Quick Escape: Read the gatehouse
- 01
Check the Lee Valley Regional Park website and visit only on a confirmed opening day.
- 02
Take in the gatehouse exterior and look for its patterned brickwork, carved details and spiral chimney.
- 03
Look around the grounds for the marked outline of the former house and its rooms.
Verified history
Rye House was a manor whose surviving remnant is its gatehouse. A supplied local-history account says the estate was acquired in 1433 by Andres Pederson, later Sir Andrew Ogard, and that he received permission from Henry VI to fortify it in 1443. The gatehouse and manor later became associated with the Rye House Plot of 1683, a plan to assassinate Charles II and his brother James. The gatehouse, carved brick details and marked-out foundations of the former house remain visible. The account also describes Rye House as one of England’s oldest brick buildings; that superlative is not independently established by the other supplied evidence.
Folklore & legend
The Lee Valley Regional Park describes the site as having a history of hauntings. Treat this as a haunting story or local legend, not verified history; the supplied material gives no specific account to substantiate a particular ghost story.
Hidden details
The spiral chimney — Seek out the striking spiral or barley-sugar-style chimney, singled out by a visitor and a local-history account.
Carved faces and brick patterning — Look for carved faces, grotesque details and the decorative patterning in the brickwork. The supplied account cautions that a carving is technically a gargoyle only if it channels rainwater.
The lost manor’s ground plan — Find the marked outline of the former house and the positions of rooms in the grounds.
When to go
· Visit on a confirmed opening day; no particular time of day is supported by the supplied evidence.
The official site says the gatehouse opens on selected days throughout the year. The supplied visitor information indicates that dates vary, so check before travelling rather than relying on a presumed seasonal schedule.
No site-specific weather or ground-condition guidance is available in the supplied sources.
What to look for
- 01
Look for the spiral, barley-sugar-style chimney
- 02
patterned brickwork
- 03
carved faces and grotesque details
- 04
and the ground markings showing the former house’s outline and rooms.
The story
Medieval manor; early English brick architecture; the 1683 Rye House Plot.
Best time to go
Check the Lee Valley Regional Park website for selected opening days throughout the year.
Visit on a confirmed opening day. No best time of day is established by the supplied sources.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Open to visitors on selected days. Check the Lee Valley Regional Park website before travelling; the gatehouse is not open every day.
Check before visiting
Parking
Parking is listed among the site facilities; availability, location and charges: Check before visiting.
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Toilets
Toilets are listed among the site facilities; check current availability before visiting.
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Food & drink
A pub is listed across the road. Check current opening and food arrangements before visiting.
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Dogs
Dogs are allowed on the grounds; check current signage and any restrictions.
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Accessibility
The source page lists a wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance. Check directly for details of access within the historic building and grounds.
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Cost
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Check before visiting
Water
River
Gallery
Place photographs
Keep exploring
Around Rye House Gatehouse
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
Place photograph7.4Amwell Nature Reserve
Amwell Lane, Great Amwell, near Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 9SS
2.7 km away
Source image7.0Amwell Nature Reserve
Amwell Lane, Great Amwell, near Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 9SS
2.7 km away
