Description
The Round House, a late C18th oval stuccoed country villa, was built for William Sheldon, and is said to owe its unusual shape resembling a tea-caddie to his profession as a successful tea merchant. From the C18th gentlemen's mansions and parks began to be built around the old village of Havering-atte-Bower, which had fine views southwards across the Thames. In the early C20th the house was occupied by the Revd Joseph Hardwick Pemberton, a famous rose-grower and President of the National Rose Society. Here he grew and hybridised roses, including the Alexandra Rose as well as various Musk and Shrub roses. The adjacent grounds of Roundhouse Farm have the site of a large kitchen garden, now grassed, enclosed with high brick walls.
Practical Information
| Site location | Broxhill Road, Havering Atte Bower |
|---|---|
| Postcode | RM4 1QH |
| What3Words | ///army.many.spun |
| Type of Site | Private Garden |
| Borough | Havering |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | Has opened for London Open House. Otherwise private |
| Events | London Open House |
| Public Transport | Rail: Romford then bus. Bus: 375, 575 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Havering-Atte-Bower retains its village atmosphere, with church, village green, picturesque buildings and surrounding countryside, and was once the location of the Royal Palace of Havering used by the monarchy from pre-Norman Conquest until 1620. From the C18th mansions and parks began to be built around the village, of which The Round House is an example. Situated on the ridge running along the north of the borough of Havering, the village and surrounding area commands dramatic views southwards across the Thames. It is this that probably commended the area to C18th house builders.
When it was built The Round House was described as providing ‘all conveniences of a country seat in miniature'. An oval stuccoed country villa of 3 storeys, it was built for William Sheldon in 1792-4, attributed to architect John Plaw, who designed St Mary's Church, Paddington Green (q.v.). Its unusual shape is ‘thought to have been modelled on a tea-caddie in reference to Sheldon's profession as a successful tea merchant' (Weinreb and Hibberd).
In the early C20th the Round House was occupied by the Revd. Joseph Hardwick Pemberton, the famous rose-grower and President of the National Rose Society who grew and hybridised roses there, including the Alexandra Rose as well as various Musk and Shrub roses. He was related to the Pemberton Barnes, who owned the Bower House (q.v.) and Havering Hall. The house is enclosed by trees, hiding it from view from the road, although it is visible from a distance. The grounds now have many rhodendrons. Adjacent to the access track from Broxhill Road, the high brick wall that encloses the former kitchen garden to Roundhouse Farm is visible. Now mainly grassed, the kitchen garden has remains of a large greenhouse. Part of the Roundhouse Farm land is included as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation with Bedfords Park (q.v.) to the south.
When it was built The Round House was described as providing ‘all conveniences of a country seat in miniature'. An oval stuccoed country villa of 3 storeys, it was built for William Sheldon in 1792-4, attributed to architect John Plaw, who designed St Mary's Church, Paddington Green (q.v.). Its unusual shape is ‘thought to have been modelled on a tea-caddie in reference to Sheldon's profession as a successful tea merchant' (Weinreb and Hibberd).
In the early C20th the Round House was occupied by the Revd. Joseph Hardwick Pemberton, the famous rose-grower and President of the National Rose Society who grew and hybridised roses there, including the Alexandra Rose as well as various Musk and Shrub roses. He was related to the Pemberton Barnes, who owned the Bower House (q.v.) and Havering Hall. The house is enclosed by trees, hiding it from view from the road, although it is visible from a distance. The grounds now have many rhodendrons. Adjacent to the access track from Broxhill Road, the high brick wall that encloses the former kitchen garden to Roundhouse Farm is visible. Now mainly grassed, the kitchen garden has remains of a large greenhouse. Part of the Roundhouse Farm land is included as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation with Bedfords Park (q.v.) to the south.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ516932 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | private |
| Site Management | private |
| Dates | 1792-4 and C20th |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: The Round House |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Havering |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Havering Atte Bower |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Havering Ridge of Special Character |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Havering Hall, a large a double-fronted brick house, was built in 1858/9 on the site of an earlier C18th house. From the C18th, gentlemen's villas and parks began to be built in the area around the village of Havering-atte-Bower. The Hall was purchased in 1979 by St Francis Hospice and opened to patients in 1984. The grounds contain some exotic specimen trees, possibly survivals from a C19th arboretum and include a mulberry, Tree of Heaven, Mount Atlas cedar, Holm oak, cork oak, yew, monkey puzzle and magnolia grandiflora. The quality of the environment is an important aspect of the work of the hospice, the gardens providing positive benefit for the patients.
Havering Atte Bower was once the location of the Royal Palace of Havering used by the monarchy from pre-Norman Conquest until 1620. Havering Village Green was acquired as public open space by Romford UDC in 1935 and is largely grass, overlooked by the parish church of St John the Evangelist. The late C17th/early C18th double stocks and whipping post used to stand in the south-east corner of the green, and were restored in 1966, having part of the original ironwork. The ducking pool used to be across North Road, a hollow in the ground indicating where it was. A row of horse chestnut trees was planted during Coronation Year 1953 and a seat installed near the west side as a further commemoration. The Green has been used for all manner of village activities over many years.
Havering-Atte-Bower, once the location of the Palace of Havering used by royalty from pre-Norman Conquest until 1638, was one of three parishes within the Royal Manor and Liberty of Havering. Its parish church of St John the Evangelist faces Havering Village Green, and is built on the site of a C12th church of St Mary's, formerly one of the Palace chapels. The churchyard has a number of mature trees and is enclosed by a low wall. The oldest among the graves is that of Thomas Cheek (d.1688), Lieutenant of the Tower of London and owner of nearby Pyrgo Park.