Abbot's Hill House and School
The Lodge, Abbots Hill, Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 8RS
Abbot's Hill House features a highly unusual and idiosyncratic style because the owner, John Dickinson, acted as his own architect during construction. Rather than adhering strictly to a single traditional style of the late Georgian or early Victorian era, the house was designed as a bespoke, utilitarian manor with eccentric features.
The exterior is built from dark grey stone setts, which Dickinson sourced directly from local railway lines when they were being replaced by wooden sleepers. Despite the massive scale of the mansion, the original blueprint famously included only one single door to the outside. Dickinson was reputedly obsessed with monitoring his staff's movement and omitted a traditional staff entrance, so everyone had to pass through the single door.
Inside, the original building retains classic 19th-century features, including a grand oak-panelled stairwell, an oak-panelled staff room (formerly part of the main living spaces), Sisters Alice, Katrine and Mary Baird purchased the house and established Abbot’s Hill School in 1912.
Timings
- Saturday 12 September:
- 10:00
Location & directions
The Lodge, Abbots Hill, Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 8RS
- Directions:
- Please use the entrance in Lower Road as that will bring you in to the entrance and not Bunkers Lane. Please use HP3 8RS if using satnav. Thank you.
- Contact on day:
- Alan Olive
- Telephone number:
- +447879435485
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- Please use the Eventbrite booking page. If you are unable to to attend please cancel your booking as this will allow other people to attend. Thank you.
- Booking contact name:
- Alan Olive
- Booking telephone number:
- +447879435485
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking website:
- https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/heritage-open-days-abbots-hill-schoolhouse-tickets-1997327473239?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
- Booking opens:
- 20 Aug 2026 12:30 PM
- Booking closes:
- 10 Sep 2026 12:30 PM
Accessibility details
Some of the tour will be outside so please wear appropriate clothing. Thank you
Additional information
If you are unable to to attend please cancel your booking as this will allow other people to attend. Thank you. Enjoy your tour!
- Max number of people:
- 20
- Estimated duration:
- 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
