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The Danesbury Fernery

'the best fernery to be found in the Home Counties'

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You are here: Home / The Families – a Time Line

The Families – a Time Line

1824  William Blake purchased the House and renamed it.

1851  Anthony Parsons employed as Head Gardener

1875  William Blake died and William John Blake succeeded to the estate

1859  Anthony Parsons built the Fernery – completed in 1860

1875  William John Blake died

1902  The Blake Family moved out and rented the House to successive tenants

1916  A disastrous fire occurred

1919  The Blake Family sold the House to the Dewar family.

1937  The Dewar Family moved out

1939  Danesbury House was used as a TB Hospital

1943  House requisitioned by the army as a bakery

1944  The Dewar Family sold the estate to the Barnet (Hospital) Management group

1955  The House became home for long term stay hospital patients

1964  Some land sold to build the Danesbury Housing Estate

1985  The Welwyn Hatfield District Council acquired the remaining land for agricultural purposes, or passive recreation.

1993  The Danesbury Hospital moved to the Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital grounds in School Lane, Welwyn

1993  The House became derelict

1998  Danesbury House restored and converted into apartments.

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Copyright © 2025 Friends of Danesbury Fernery (FODF). Non attributed photography by John Roper.