Step onto Melbourne Road in Bushey and you are standing before the enduring legacy of a "Bavarian castle." While the towering Romanesque Revival structure known as Lululaund was dismantled in 1939, its spirit remains etched into the landscape. This site serves as a profound architectural chronicle of artist Hubert von Herkomer’s life, his tribute to his late wife Lulu, and his pioneering role in early cinema.
A Fortress of Art and Innovation
Lululaund was far more than a residence; it was an ambitious statement of craft. Designed from the sketches of American architect Henry Hobson Richardson—the only example of his work to exist in Europe—the house was constructed using white tufa from Bavaria and red sandstone. You can still trace the history of its design through its distinctive features: a wide segmental arch across the front, two round turreted towers, and a massive, ornate drawing room with an arched chimney-piece.
The interior was a masterclass in German Gothic style. If the walls could speak, they would tell of a principal bedroom featuring a copper ceiling and gold-leafed carvings, and a dining room adorned with a relief frieze of figures representing "Human Sympathy." The estate also hosted a theatre where Herkomer staged "pictorial-music-plays" before it was converted into a film studio. Even in the 1890s, the home was technologically advanced, featuring its own electricity generator and modern plumbing.
The Preservation of the Grounds
While much of the original house was lost to time and the demands of war, you can still experience the atmosphere of the estate through its preserved landscape. The site originally included a summer-house, a sunken garden, and a pergola. These elements were integrated into what is now known as the Bushey Rose Garden.
The transition from a private sanctuary to a public space began in 1937 when the rose garden was officially transferred to local ownership. Walking through these grounds allows you to experience the same vistas that landscape architect Thomas Mawson designed in 1913. A tangible fragment of the original architecture remains on Melbourne Road: the front door and tympanum of Lululaund were integrated into a nearby building, serving as a physical bridge to the past.
Experience the Legacy
To truly appreciate the site, spend time wandering through the Bushey Rose Garden. This is the best way to connect with the scale of the original estate and its transition from a private studio to a public landmark. The highlight of your visit is the opportunity to stand where these elaborate gardens once served as the backdrop for Herkomer's artistic life.
If you wish to explore further, nearby locations include the Bushey Rose Garden, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Holy Rood, Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, or St Mary's.
Start planning your visit today to see how the history of a single artist transformed a piece of Hertfordshire into a lasting landscape of heritage.