Welcome to the Friends of Hylands House Website

"The objectives of the Friends shall be the preservation and improvement of the listed building Hylands House, Chelmsford, together with its associated park, and the promotion of its use by the public, through the activities of a group of Friends."

Hylands House is a beautiful grade II listed building, surrounded by over 500 acres of landscaped parkland, partly designed by Humphry Repton. Built circa 1730, the original house was a red brick Queen Anne style mansion.

Subsequent owners modernised and enlarged the property by adding the east and west wings, a colonnaded portico and covering the House in white stucco, producing the neo-classical style house seen today.

The last owner, Mrs Hanbury, died in 1962 and Hylands House was left empty for several years and suffered severe damage by fire and vandalism. Chelmsford Borough Council bought the House and Park in 1966 and embarked on a restoration program in 1986.

Several phases of work have since taken place and visitors can now see rooms spectacularly restored and refurbished. The impressive interiors range from the exquisitely gilded Drawing Room dating from the early Victorian era, to the striking marble-effect Entrance Hall from Hylands' Georgian period.

Help us secure the future of Hylands House by joining the Friends to raise funds to support the preservation and improvement of this beautiful historic estate.

NEW! The current 'Friends of Hylands House Newsletter' can be found on the News page