Rawdon House

Rawdon House was built in the 17th century by Marmaduke (later Sir Marmaduke) Rawdon. He was a successful merchant who married a Hoddesdon heiress, Elizabeth Thorowgood, in 1611. The Rawdon coat of arms is over the door and above that at roof level is a plaque with the date 1622 which was added during 19th century restoration work, based on evidence of old rainwater heads. However, there is some evidence that the house may have been built at a slightly later date. Rawdon House had its own water supply, piped from a spring over half a mile away. Finding the quantity of water more than adequate for the house, Marmaduke Rawdon had a pipe laid to the town centre. The Samaritan Woman statue which now stands beside Lowewood was erected so that the water flowed from her urn into a pond.

Marmaduke Rawdon was a Royalist who fought for Charles I in the Civil War and was knighted by the king. He became ill while on campaign and died in 1646. The Rawdons lost much of their earlier prosperity because of their allegiance to the Crown. The last of the Rawdons to live at Rawdon House was Hester, Sir Marmaduke’s great, great grand-daughter. Various tenants then occupied the house, one of whom from 1778-9 was John Dymoke, Hereditary Champion of England. From 1845 to 1865 Sarah Stickney Ellis, a well-known author of the time, ran a controversial girl’s school at Rawdon House. The north wing was built in 1880, its styling in keeping with the original house. In 1898, the Nuns of the Order of St Augustine took over Rawdon House and it was known as St Monica’s Priory until they left in 1969. The house is now used as offices and its land was sold for housing.

Turn around and retrace your steps towards the roundabout at Cock Lane. Just before the roundabout, on the opposite side of the road, behind a wall, is a large red brick building with a slate roof, The Grange.

Cross the road, via the central refuge to black gate set in the wall of The Grange. Turn right to walk beside the wall.