The Almhouses
THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1101350
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Almhouses
- Statutory Address:
- THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-05-21
- Reference:
- IOE01/06617/36
- Rights:
- © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1101350
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1951
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 06-Jul-1984
- List Entry Name:
- The Almhouses
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Buntingford
- National Grid Reference:
- TL3627829328
Details
TL 3629
7/40
BUNTINGFORD
HIGH STREET (west side)
The Almshouses (Seth Ward's Hospital) Nos 1 to 15 (odd)
19.10.51
GV II*
Almshouses. 1684 (possibly by Robert Hooke) for Seth Ward Bishop
of Exeter and Salisbury, mathematician and astronomer, friend of
Wren. Plum brick in Flemish-bond, Portland stone dressings, and
steep old red tile hipped roof. 2 storeys, U-shaped building
around a court open to the E. 7-windows wide symmetrical front
to W range and 5-windows wings to N and S. 2 windows to each
floor on ends of wings which also have an offset plinth in line
with the red brick courtyard retaining wall topped by a wrought
iron railing on timber posts, swept up to a central gate
approached by 2 steps. Portland stone is used for the rusticated
quoins, plain floor band, bold modillioned cornice with egg-and-
dart bedmould, moulded 2-light mullioned windows, eared door
surrounds (without frieze below the cyma cornice), and elaborate
carved centrepiece. At the rear the elements are represented
by a deep coved cornice, brick band, and segmental brick arches
to the heavy wooden casement 2-light windows. All chimneys rise
from the back wall. Slightly projecting pedimented central bay
in courtyard has a window over a wide stone doorway with
ornamental head crowned with a swan-neck pediment enclosing the
arms of Bishop Ward. On tablet over door '1684/THIS HOSPITAL WAS
ERECTED AND/ENDOWED BY SETH WARD D:D: LD. BP. OF/SALISBURY &
CHANCELLr. OF YE MOST NOBLE: ORDER OF YE GARTERWHO WAS BORN IN
YIS:/TOWN WITHINYE PARRISH OF ASPDEN & EDVCA-/TED IN YE FREE-
SKOOL OF BUNTINGFORD.' Fine scrolled stone trusses support the
entablatcre with swelled frieze and moulded surround to battened
door. Houses for 4 men and 4 women. Each on 2 floors with
living room and another room on Ground floor and bedroom and
smaller room on 1st floor. 2 houses in each wing with doors at
each corner, 4 in main block separated by central feature.
Leaded glazing in opening lights, and battened doors one step up
from courtyard. A classical almshouses of 1684 of outstanding
interest. (RCHM (1911)140: VCH (1914)79: Pevsner (1977) 117-
8).
Listing NGR: TL3627829328
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 159780
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Doubleday, AH, The Victoria History of the County of Hertford, (1914), 79
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977), 117-8
Other
Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Hertfordshire, (1910)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 16:44:41.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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