Number 27 Including Gates and Gatepiers Adjoining South Side

NUMBER 27 INCLUDING GATES AND GATEPIERS ADJOINING SOUTH SIDE, 27, HOLYWELL HILL

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1251301
Date first listed:
01-Aug-1991
List Entry Name:
Number 27 Including Gates and Gatepiers Adjoining South Side
Statutory Address:
NUMBER 27 INCLUDING GATES AND GATEPIERS ADJOINING SOUTH SIDE, 27, HOLYWELL HILL
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Date:
2001-06-24
Reference:
IOE01/01998/27
Rights:
© Mr David Fletcher. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1251301
Date first listed:
01-Aug-1991
List Entry Name:
Number 27 Including Gates and Gatepiers Adjoining South Side
Statutory Address 1:
NUMBER 27 INCLUDING GATES AND GATEPIERS ADJOINING SOUTH SIDE, 27, HOLYWELL 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.

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:
NUMBER 27 INCLUDING GATES AND GATEPIERS ADJOINING SOUTH SIDE, 27, HOLYWELL HILL

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

County:
Hertfordshire
District:
St. Albans (District Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TL 14671 06965

Details

The following buildings shall be added:-

TL 1406 NE HOLYWELL HILL

14/333 No 27 (Including gates and gatepiers adjoining south side)

GV II

Offices. 1910-11 by Percival C. Blow for Messrs Ryder and Sons, seed and bulb merchants. English bond red brick with stone dressings and granite ashlar plinth. Plain tile hipped roof behind parapet. Double depth plan with central entrance hall with stair-well behind 4 main offices flanking at front and rear. Combination of Arts and Crafts and Wrenaissance styles. 2 storeys and basement. Symmetrical 1:3:1 bay west front with stone modillion cornice continuing around projecting end bays which have banded pilasters with wreaths in their friezes and slightly bowed 4-light stone mullion transom first and second floor windows with leaded panes; between the first and second floor windows large carved stone reliefs depicting agricultural scenes of ploughing, sewing and harvesting with large figures of a god and goddess. At centre steps to stone portico with composite half-column panel in frieze dated 1911 and segmented pediment containing fielded panel double doors and overlight; flanked by stone cross-mullion-transom, windows with keystones in flat brick arches: band above and 3 first floor bullseye window with moulded terracotta festoons. Including gateway and adjoining right (south) with stone banded brick piers on granite plinths and with moulded caps and ornate cast-iron double gates to carriageway with balusters and geometric patterns. Interior: largely unaltered and containing many original features including:- Entrance lobby with vaulted tiled ceiling and pilastered and pedimented mahogany screen. Staircase with mahogany balustrade with wreathed handrail and moulded balusters. Stairs, landing and central first floor office lit by domes with leaded stained glass panes and with moulded trailing vine pilaster- work on walls. Front right hand first floor office has mahogany chimneypiece with segmental pedimented overmantel containing arms. Note: built by local builders Miskins for Samuel Ryder, the seed merchant. He became mayor of St Albans in 1905 and a deacon of Trinity. Ryder was the presenter of the Ryder Cup, the Great Britain Versus U.S. golf tournament trophy. Buried under the foundations is a Bottle containing packets of seeds, a seed catalogue and a history of the firm.

Listing NGR: TL1467106965

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
163532
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.

Ordnance survey map of Number 27 Including Gates and Gatepiers Adjoining South Side

Map

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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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