Sheila Clifford (cadnant @t blueyonder.co.uk) from Devon writes: Martha Taylor my great aunt appears in the census 1901 and 1911 working as a nurse at Hoo mansion occupied by Viscount Hampden & family. My question is, does the mansion still exist? If not, what happened to it?

The Hoo, at St Pauls Walden, is one of a number of larger houses in the area with the name "Hoo", the best known one being Luton Hoo, a few miles over the border into Bedfordshire. It is also sometimes referred to as Kimpton Hoo.

Pevsner, in the book The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, says it dated from the mid 17th century and was built of brick with rusticated stone facings and balustraded parapet. Capability Brown is said to have laid out the grounds circa 1762. It was demolished in 1958.

The following picture shows it in 1700 - before Capability Brown laid out the grounds.

The Hoo, St Pauls Walden

From Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire

Playing Bowls on the lawn.   A carriage on the drive è

Kimpton Hoo    Kimpton Hoo, the property of Viscount Hampden, and at present occupied by Godfrey Walters esq. is a noble mansion standing in an extensive domain of 247 acres, surrounded by stately trees. Viscount Hampden is lord of the manor and principal landlord. [Kelly's Directory for Hertfordshire, 1902]

Books

NOBLE & SPLENDID Scandal, Honour and Duty: the Families of Kimpton Hoo By Peter Hale For The Kimpton History Group 2008 Online Copy (pdf) An very useful account of the history of the house and its occupants up to the time of its demolition in 1958.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.