East Haddon: Historic Buildings and Circular Walk

East Haddon brings together a range of themes for planning your trip: historic buildings, garden design, sport and a circular walk through open countryside. Visiting conditions vary depending on the attraction.

Church and font: several phases of construction

The Church of St Mary dates from the 12th to 14th centuries and was restored in the 19th century. One detail with a more precise date is the font: it dates from the 13th century and features a decorative frieze. The date of the font and the church’s long construction period give you two different reference points when exploring its architecture.

Country house, garden design and thatched roof

East Haddon Hall is a country house built around 1780–1781 for the Sawbridge family. The Hall’s gardens were laid out by Gertrude Jekyll and Lutyens in 1897; only fragments remain. The house’s construction and the gardens’ design are therefore two distinct chapters. The Thatched House adds to the historic buildings with a house dating from the mid-17th century and its thatched roof. Together, these details offer insight into different periods of construction without assigning the houses to a single era.

Haddonstone Show Gardens: visits by appointment

The Haddonstone Show Gardens showcase a wide selection of products for homes, gardens, landscaping and architecture. Their focus differs from the historic garden design at East Haddon Hall: here, the emphasis is on the products on display, while there it is on the 1897 garden and its surviving fragments. Visits to the Haddonstone Show Gardens are by prior appointment only. If you plan to include them in your itinerary, arrange an appointment before your visit.

Sport and leisure

The East Haddon War Memorial Playing Fields cover 4.9 acres and are used for sport and leisure. Archery lessons are also offered there. The East Haddon Tennis Court can be used either with an annual subscription or on a pay-as-you-play basis. The two options differ in whether you choose a subscription or pay as you play. When planning, you can consider which type of tennis access suits your stay.

Circular walk across open farmland

The East Haddon Circular starts in East Haddon, runs mostly across open farmland and offers views. The walk provides a different focus from the history of the buildings and gardens, with the emphasis on landscape and outdoor activity. Conditions can vary by season. If you plan to follow the route, check the path conditions before setting out.

The themes can help guide your travel plans: the Church of St Mary, East Haddon Hall and The Thatched House reflect historic periods of construction; the Playing Fields and Tennis Court offer sporting activities, while the circular walk brings the landscape into focus. The Haddonstone Show Gardens require an appointment. Consider which of these interests you want to shape your trip, then look for a hotel in East Haddon.

Discover more destinations: Thurning, Aynho, Potterspury, Roade, Harringworth, Greatworth, Overstone, Sulgrave.

For the broader travel guide: Northamptonshire.