Gorhambury
GORHAMBURY, BLUEHOUSE HILL
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1102915
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1953
- List Entry Name:
- Gorhambury
- Statutory Address:
- GORHAMBURY, BLUEHOUSE HILL
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1102915
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1953
- List Entry Name:
- Gorhambury
- Statutory Address 1:
- GORHAMBURY, BLUEHOUSE HILL
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:
- GORHAMBURY, BLUEHOUSE HILL
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- St. Albans (District Authority)
- Parish:
- St. Michael
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 11374 07850
Details
TL 10 NW ST MICHAEL BLUEHOUSE HILL (off) (north west side)
9/255 Gorhambury 19.10.53
GV II*
Country house. Begun 1777-84 for the third Viscount Grimston by Sir Robert Taylor. Refaced in Portland stone 1957-67. Originally the house had low wings connecting the main building with side blocks. The low N wing was replaced by a stuccoed 3- storeyed block in 1816-17, the outer N block by a more substantial one in 1826 (W Atkinson). In the same year the S wing and block were demolished . Main block is 2 storeys over basement. Deep hexastyle Corinthian portico with paired outer columns, the rear wall pilastered. 3 sash windows each side with moulded frames, those of ground floor with cornices. Rusticated basement and podium. Long flight of steps to portico. Central double door with shell motif in arch tympanum. Rear elevation with three-quarter column hexastyle portico. N wing is 3 windows with similar detail. N block is 1:3:1 sash windows, the centre 3 projecting.
Interior: Large cube central hall modelled on Queen's House with high bracketed balcony. S wall with stained glass windows and good marble fireplace taken from Old Gorhambury. Yellow drawing room in SW has a richly carved fireplace by Piranesi: white marble with figured red marble panels and medallions. Another Piranesi fireplace in library. Good oval staircase hall on N side with cantilevered spiral stairs and glazed dome. Important collection of family portraits. (C.L. 25.11.33, Pevsner (1977)).
Listing NGR: TL1137407850
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 163797
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977)
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 21 Hertfordshire,
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 19-Jun-2026 at 03:34:05.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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