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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:: 18-Oct-1951
List Entry Name:: THE ALMHOUSES
Statutory Address:: THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET

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Date:: 2002-05-21
Reference:: IOE01/06617/36
Rights:: © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1101350
Date first listed:: 18-Oct-1951
Date of most recent amendment:: 05-Jul-1984
List Entry Name:: THE ALMHOUSES
Statutory Address 1:: THE ALMHOUSES, 1-15, HIGH STREET

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.