Bonks Hill House

BONKS HILL HOUSE, HIGH WYCH ROAD

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1101676
Date first listed:
02-Oct-1981
List Entry Name:
Bonks Hill House
Statutory Address:
BONKS HILL HOUSE, HIGH WYCH ROAD
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1101676
Date first listed:
02-Oct-1981
List Entry Name:
Bonks Hill House
Statutory Address 1:
BONKS HILL HOUSE, HIGH WYCH ROAD

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
BONKS HILL HOUSE, HIGH WYCH ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Hertfordshire
District:
East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:
Sawbridgeworth
National Grid Reference:
TL 47815 14359

Details

HIGH WYCH ROAD 1. 5253 (North Side) Bonks Hill House TL 478 143:6/21 II 2. C17 largely rebuilt and extended circa 1827 for the celebrated rose grower Thomas Rivers (1789-1877) of Rivers Nursery adjoining (founded by John Rivers in 1725 with Bonks Hill as the family house). Regency 2 storey L- shaped stucco villa,with giant pilasters to front facing SE. Hipped slate roof with plastered soffit panelled. Large gable stack to N end where 2 storey timberframed and weatherboarded section of older house remains. Long 1½ storey timberframed weatherboarded range encloses N side of front court. Steep pantiled clasped purlin roof. Now storage, this range has a central red brick chimney possibly indicating earlier domestic use. Yorkshire casement window under eaves. This range is said to have been shortened at the SE end when the road cutting was made in the late C19. 3 window stucco front lined as ashlar over projecting plinth. Large recessed sashes with 6/6 panes and slender glazing bars. 4 giant pilasters framing 3 bays, the central one narrower. Central round headed doorway with simple stucco architrave with flattened torus moulding unbroken except for square panelled impost blocks. Door set in recessed plain arch. Bolection moulded panelled door with large bottom panel, a horizontal mid panel and 2 vertical panels above. Lobed radial fanlight with tapered lantern in centre with 3 front faces. SW front symmetrical. Projecting plinth. Stucco lined as ashlar. Central and corner pilasters. 2 broad full height projections in panels between, pierced by windows. Recessed 6/6 paned sashes. French doors to Gd floor. Projecting C19 single storey conservatory next S corner. Elongated cast iron corner columns carrying iron entablature with interlaced vine scroll frieze and coved cornice. Glazed timber screens. A house of striking appearance in a picturesque setting and with important historical horticultural connections (Country Life, 25 June 1981, p 1838).

Listing NGR: TL4781514359

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
160777
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Country Life in 25 June, (1981), 1838

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Bonks Hill House

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 20-Jun-2026 at 10:54:27.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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