Former London Orphan Asylum
FORMER LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, OPHANAGE ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1175648
- Date first listed:
- 15-Sept-1982
- List Entry Name:
- Former London Orphan Asylum
- Statutory Address:
- FORMER LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, OPHANAGE ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-01-02
- Reference:
- IOE01/13251/25
- Rights:
- © Mr Anthony Sidell. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1175648
- Date first listed:
- 15-Sept-1982
- List Entry Name:
- Former London Orphan Asylum
- Statutory Address 1:
- FORMER LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, OPHANAGE 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.
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:
- FORMER LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM, OPHANAGE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- Watford (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 11419 97246
Details
TQ 19 NW 4/21
5259
ORPHANAGE ROAD
Former London Orphan Asylum
(Formerly listed as "Government Offices" Reed School (Orphan Asylum))
15.9.82
II
1871 by Henry Dawson. Former London Orphan Asylum. Extensive Gothic group of
institutional buildings built for 5-600 orphans and 100 servants for £63,000. No
plaster was used to save on maintenance. Stock brick with red brick, terracotta,
red sandstone and Bath stone decorative details. Slate roofs. Large central
administration block. South facing, with Headmasters House to left and on each
side a 3-sided quadrangle, open to the south, large boys' quadrangle to left,
smaller girls' quadrangle to right. A further large boys' quadrangle to the rear
of the front boys' quadrangle is not included in -the listing. Central range 3-storey
and attic, 5 window with 125' tower over centre. Hipped roof with bargeboarded
bulls-eye dormers. Gothic arched porch in centre with 1st and 2nd floor windows
united in stone surround with Gothic head. Tower brick, square surround with
corners chamfered and 2-light openings at bell-stage. Above heavily moulded eaves
broken by a clock with bargeboarded gable. Octagonal slated spire with timber open
lantern. Flanking centre are 2-storey stone projecting bays, outer windows paired
with Gothic arched heads. 2nd floor windows triple. Heavy bracketed eaves cornice.
The West (boys) quadrangle is larger and more elaborate than the girls' quadrangle.
Basic unit 2-storey with steep roof, 7 windows. Centre emphasised with 2-sided
stone oriels at 1st floor and hipped, canted-side gable above. Ground floor open
arcade on stone columns with naturalistic capitals. Two units to west side, one
to east. North range has single storey arcade flanking low 2 gabled 2-storey build-
ing with open ground floor (the glazing, floor, and roof (including former lantern
spirelet) destroyed by fire 1989). Girls' quadrangle (East) has paired windows
with coloured brick relieving arches over ground floor windows and blocked 5 bay
arcade on east range, brick piers and roundels in spandrels. Five window sides,
10 window centre.
Builder 29.1871 591. Architect 18.2.1871.
Listing NGR: TQ1141997246
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 158203
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
The Builder in The Builder, Vol. 29, (1871), 591
Architect in Architect - 18 February, (1871)
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 25-Jun-2026 at 12:40:01.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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