Hanbury Manor
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA historic Hertfordshire country-house hotel and golf resort operated by Marriott Hotels.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Hanbury Manor is a country-house hotel and country club in Thundridge, north of Ware in Hertfordshire, approximately 16 kilometres north of Greater London. The property occupies a late-Victorian Jacobean-style house that is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England. It combines historic architecture and landscaped estate surroundings with hotel accommodation, restaurants, conference and banqueting facilities, leisure amenities, and an 18-hole golf course. The operating identity is generally presented as Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club, placing the property within Marriott Hotels while retaining the Hanbury Manor name as its principal hospitality identity. The estate has a long history before becoming a hotel. A substantial house is associated with the site from the sixteenth century, when it was linked with Reginald Pole and the Pole family. The estate later became known as Poles. The Hanbury family took possession in the late eighteenth century, and Sampson Hanbury acquired the property outright around 1800. His relatives expanded and managed the estate during the nineteenth century while maintaining connections with the Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co. brewery in East London and with Hertfordshire civic life. The present principal house was commissioned by Edmund Smith Hanbury after the earlier residence was considered unsuitable for his family. Designed by Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto and constructed in 1890–1891, it used red brick, blue-brick decorative work, and stone mullioned windows in a Jacobean idiom. The house was notable for early domestic electrical supply and central heating in the parish. Service buildings and stables were added in 1913, by which point the surrounding estate had become considerably smaller. After Robert Francis Hanbury sold the property in 1914, the house passed through a series of institutional uses. The Faithful Companions of Jesus acquired it in 1923 and established a convent school. During the 1930s the building was altered with classrooms, dormitories, a gymnasium, a tower, and a chapel. The school eventually closed in 1986. Several former pupils later became notable in journalism, acting, business, sport administration, and the antiques trade. The property was redeveloped as a hotel and country club over a three-year period in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It opened in 1990 with RockResorts as its first operator. Conversion work adapted former school areas for conferences and banquets, while a new wing added a swimming pool, gym, squash courts, bar, brasserie, and billiards facilities. A Garden Court annexe near the walled garden added 53 bedrooms. Country Club Hotel Group took over operation in 1994, after which the business became part of Marriott International. Marriott added a 65-bedroom extension in 1999 and continues to operate the hotel and golf facilities. Golf is central to the resort's positioning. An earlier nine-hole course was designed by Harry Vardon in the early twentieth century, while the current 18-hole course was designed by Jack Nicklaus II and opened in 1991. The course hosted the Marks & Spencer European Open in 1996 and the English Open from 1997 through 1999. The hotel also serves weddings, private functions, business meetings, conferences, and leisure breaks. Its combination of listed heritage, accessible southeast-England location, golf, accommodation, and event infrastructure defines the modern Hanbury Manor proposition.
History
The site associated with Hanbury Manor has roots in a substantial early-modern house linked with Reginald Pole and the Pole family. The estate was later known as Poles. In the late eighteenth century the Hanbury family settled there, initially as lessees and later as owners. Sampson Hanbury purchased Poles outright around 1800. His widow Agatha subsequently held the property, which passed in 1847 to Robert Hanbury, a senior partner in the Truman, Hanbury, Buxton & Co. brewery. The Hanbury family combined estate ownership with public and commercial roles in Hertfordshire and London. Edmund Smith Hanbury inherited the estate and commissioned the current main house after his wife regarded the earlier residence as unsuitable. Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto designed the replacement in the Jacobean style, and it was built in 1890–1891 by Simpsons & Ayrton. The red-brick house featured blue-brick detailing and stone mullioned windows, and it was among the earliest buildings in the parish to have electricity and central heating. Service accommodation and stables were added in 1913. The estate had contracted substantially from its earlier scale by that time. Edmund's son, Robert Francis Hanbury, sold Poles in 1914. In 1923 the Faithful Companions of Jesus bought the property for use as a convent school. The institution altered the house in 1934 by adding educational and residential facilities, including classrooms, dormitories, a gymnasium, a tower, and a chapel. The school closed in 1986, ending the property's principal educational use. A redevelopment by Landbase Ltd transformed the estate into a hotel and country club between 1988 and 1990. The hotel opened in 1990 under RockResorts. Former school areas were adapted into conference and banqueting spaces, including the former chapel, which became Poles Hall. New facilities included a swimming pool, gym, squash courts, bar, brasserie, billiards room, and a Garden Court annexe with 53 bedrooms. Country Club Hotel Group assumed operation in 1994 and was later acquired by Marriott International. Marriott added a 65-bedroom extension in 1999 and continues to operate the property as Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club. The golf story predates the hotel. Harry Vardon designed a nine-hole course on the estate in the early twentieth century. The present 18-hole course, designed by Jack Nicklaus II, opened in 1991. It hosted the Marks & Spencer European Open in 1996 and the English Open from 1997 to 1999. Today the property uses its listed architecture, golf facilities, accommodation, dining, leisure amenities, and event spaces to serve leisure travellers, golfers, wedding parties, conference delegates, and private functions.
- 1999
Marriott adds a bedroom extension
[1]Marriott added a 65-bedroom extension after taking over the property and its hotel operations.
- 1994
Country Club Hotel Group takes over operation
[1]Country Club Hotel Group became the hotel's operator before its subsequent acquisition by Marriott International.
- 1991
Modern 18-hole golf course opens
[1]The current course designed by Jack Nicklaus II opened, replacing the property's earlier nine-hole golf format.
- 1990
Hotel and country club opens
[1]The redeveloped estate opened as a five-star hotel and country club under RockResorts.
- 1986
Convent school closes
[1]The school closed, clearing the way for the property's later hospitality redevelopment.
- 1923
Conversion into a convent school
[1]The Faithful Companions of Jesus acquired the house and established a convent school.
- 1914
Estate sold by Robert Francis Hanbury
[1]Robert Francis Hanbury sold Poles, ending direct Hanbury family ownership.
- 1890
Construction of the present manor house
[1]A new Jacobean-style country house designed by Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto was constructed during 1890–1891 for Edmund Smith Hanbury.
- 1800
Sampson Hanbury acquires Poles
[1]Sampson Hanbury acquired the estate outright around the beginning of the nineteenth century, establishing the long Hanbury association with the property.
Products and positioning
Upscale heritage country-house hotel and golf resort for leisure stays, golf, weddings, conferences, and private events.
Hospitality · 1990
Hotel accommodation
Accommodation is provided across the historic manor, later extensions, and the Garden Court annexe. The lodging offer is integrated with the estate's heritage setting and is aimed at leisure guests, golfers, wedding parties, and business travellers attending meetings or events.
Golf · 1991
Hanbury Manor golf course
The current golf course is an 18-hole layout designed by Jack Nicklaus II and opened in 1991. It forms the central sporting component of the country club and has hosted professional tournaments including the Marks & Spencer European Open and the English Open.
Food, beverage, and recreation · 1990
Dining and leisure facilities
The resort includes restaurant and bar services alongside leisure facilities developed during the hotel conversion. These have included a brasserie, swimming pool, gym, squash courts, changing rooms, and billiards facilities, supporting both overnight stays and country-club use.
Events and business hospitality · 1990
Meetings, weddings, and banqueting
Former convent-school spaces were adapted into conference and banqueting facilities. Poles Hall, formerly the later chapel, functions as a principal event space, while the estate's historic rooms and grounds support weddings, private celebrations, corporate meetings, and larger functions.
Brand decisions
1991
Replace the earlier nine-hole course with an 18-hole layoutGeneration changeBackground
The estate had an earlier nine-hole course designed by Harry Vardon, but the new hotel and country-club proposition called for a larger championship-oriented golf facility.
Action taken
A new 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus II opened in 1991.
Aftermath
The course became a core part of the resort and hosted several professional tournaments during the 1990s.
1988
Redevelop the former estate and school as a hotelStrategyBackground
After the convent school closed in 1986, the historic property required a new viable use. Landbase Ltd undertook a multi-year redevelopment designed to combine heritage conservation with commercial hospitality and country-club facilities.
Action taken
The project converted former school areas into conference and banqueting rooms, added accommodation and leisure facilities, and created a modern golf-resort operation around the listed manor house.
Aftermath
The property opened as a hotel and country club in 1990 and subsequently entered the Marriott operating portfolio.
Recent events
- 1999
Marriott expands Hanbury Manor accommodation[1]
M&A · Other
Following Marriott's acquisition of the operating group, the hotel received a 65-bedroom extension and became part of the Marriott-operated property portfolio.
- 1996
Hanbury Manor hosts major professional golf events[1]
Other
The golf course hosted the Marks & Spencer European Open, adding an internationally visible tournament to the property's event history.
- 1990
Hanbury Manor hotel and country club opens after estate redevelopment[1]
Other
A major redevelopment converted the former country house and convent-school property into a five-star hotel and country club, with new leisure, accommodation, and event facilities.
Sources1 sources
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