Hatfield Forest

Hatfield Forest is a historic building in Essex, cared for by the National Trust. Read about its history and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Hatfield Forest

Henry I established this Essex woodland as a royal hunting forest around 1100.

Hatfield Forest, near Bishop's Stortford, is now recognised as the only Royal Hunting Forest in England to survive with all its original elements intact.

Ancient pollards, open plains, coppice woods and grazing cattle and deer remain much as they did under medieval Forest Law.

The National Trust owns and manages the site, which also holds Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve status.

History of Hatfield Forest

The forest was part of the much larger Forest of Essex, which once also encompassed Epping, Hainault and Writtle. A medieval deer warren surviving within the forest is now a Scheduled Monument, a rare physical trace of its original hunting function. Botanist and rural historian Oliver Rackham studied the site closely and argued in his book The Last Forest that Hatfield retains every element of a true medieval forest, from deer and cattle to pollards and fen.

Worth knowing

The forest was the subject of Oliver Rackham's book The Last Forest, which used Hatfield as the key surviving example of a medieval Royal Forest landscape.

Gardens & grounds at Hatfield Forest

The wood pasture, ancient pollards and open plains form the main attraction, offering a landscape that has changed little since medieval times.

Plan your visit to Hatfield Forest

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Nearest station: Stansted Airport Rail Station (2.5 miles)

Places to visit near Hatfield Forest

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet

church 2.7 miles

View St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet on heritage map

St Mary's Church, Chickney

church 5.5 miles

View St Mary's Church, Chickney on heritage map

Prior's Hall Barn

historic building 7.3 miles

View Prior's Hall Barn on heritage map

St Andrew's Church, Willingale

church 8.7 miles

View St Andrew's Church, Willingale on heritage map

Blake Hall

historic house 9.3 miles

Visit Blake Hall View Blake Hall on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Hatfield Forest there are 1 historic properties, including 1 church.

1 Churches Conservation Trust

1 Church

See these 1 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Hatfield Forest there are 5 historic properties, including 3 churchs, across Churches Conservation Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.

3 Churches Conservation Trust

1 English Heritage

1 Historic Houses

3 Church

1 Historic building

1 Historic house

See these 5 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Hatfield Forest there are 28 historic properties, including 12 historic houses, 9 churchs and 4 historic buildings, across Historic Houses, Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.

12 Historic Houses

9 Churches Conservation Trust

5 English Heritage

1 National Trust

12 Historic house

9 Church

4 Historic building

1 Priory

1 Chapel

1 Garden