The Cloisters

The Cloisters, Barrington Road, Hertfordshire, SG6 3TH

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

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1102019
Date first listed:: 07-Sep-1979
List Entry Name:: The Cloisters
Statutory Address:: The Cloisters, Barrington Road, Hertfordshire, SG6 3TH

Entrance elevation — Uploaded by Alasdair Massie This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Almost 350,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
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Date:: 2004-05-23
Reference:: IOE01/09309/19
Rights:: © Mr Ted Ellis. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1102019
Date first listed:: 07-Sep-1979
List Entry Name:: The Cloisters
Statutory Address 1:: The Cloisters, Barrington Road, Hertfordshire, SG6 3TH

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 Cloisters, Barrington Road, Hertfordshire, SG6 3TH

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

County:: Hertfordshire
District:: North Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TL 22043 31427

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 26 February 2024 to amend the name and address and reformat the text to current standards

TL 23 SW 1/23

BARRINGTON ROAD The Cloisters

(Formerly listed as North Hertfordshire Masonic Lodge (The Cloisters))

II*

1906-7 by W H Cowlishaw. Built for Miss Annie Lawrence as a residential School of Psychology. Later converted for use as a preparatory school, then a concert hall. By 1948 it had become a masonic lodge. Romantic composition with an octagonal, high tower and two open turrets with spiral staircases rising above the cloister garth, an open semi-circular court, which was later roofed with a rotunda when used as a concert hall. Other features originally included cubicles for dressing purposes linked to an open swimming bath. Tiled roofs. Grey brick with diaper work patterns and Purbeck stone dressings. The rich, symbolic carved work (doves and bats for example) was mostly uncompleted before the building project in its original form came to a halt in 1907.

Interior of painted brick with mass concrete vaulting. Windows of two-light mullioned casement with leaded lights, and arranged as enormous mullioned key windows around the central court. Entrance in north-west corner approached by flights of steps leading to arched portico. The cloister garth has an arcade with columns of Swedish green marble and a central fountain in Art Nouveau style around the central support of the tower.

Modern additions to the rear.

Listing NGR: TL2204331427

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 161838
Legacy System:: LBS

Legal

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