HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK)

HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK), NORTH 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:: 1268850
Date first listed:: 12-Apr-1973
List Entry Name:: HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK)
Statutory Address:: HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK), NORTH ROAD

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Date:: 2001-06-20
Reference:: IOE01/03002/31
Rights:: © Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1268850
Date first listed:: 12-Apr-1973
List Entry Name:: HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK)
Statutory Address 1:: HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK), NORTH ROAD

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:: HERTFORD COUNTY HOSPITAL (MAIN FRONT BLOCK), NORTH ROAD

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

County:: Hertfordshire
District:: East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Hertford
National Grid Reference:: TL 31879 12628

Details

HERTFORD

TL3112NE NORTH ROAD 817-1/8/134 (South side) 12/04/73 Hertford County Hospital (main front block)

II

Hospital, built as General Infirmary. 1832-3, much altered and extended late C19 and C20. Designed by Thomas Smith, architect. Stuccoed brick, and yellow stock brick, laid to Flemish bond to flanks. Welsh slated hipped roof. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attic. 5-bay front elevation, with slightly later single bay wings set back to left and right. Central 3 bays break slightly forward with tetrastyle Tuscan Doric pseudo-portico to upper 2 storeys, and plat band at first-floor level across full width of facade. First floor has recessed 12-pane sash windows, second floor squat 6-pane sashes, the 2 to right of pediment now enlarged. 3 light box dormer to left of central pediment. Ground floor has recessed 12-pane sashes, some now altered, and central doorway with half-glazed door beneath fanlight with bolection moulded architrave surround. Fascia and entablature, the former reflected in a deep projecting band across the original 5 bay facade. Pediment with sculpted tympanum symbolising medicine, centrally set on raised band at base of pediment, with moulded console supports, is inscribed 'stone placed by Bishop of Lincoln 17 July 1832.' INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: the hospital had its origins in the efforts of Rev Thomas Lloyd and Henry Cowper of Tewin Water to provide medical services for the poor. In 1822 the General Dispensary was opened in Hertford Castle by permission of the Marquess of Salisbury; a decade later the General Infirmary was built. Thomas Smith (1798-1875), the architect lived nearby at No.2 North Road (qv) which he built for himself in 1827-28. The hospital opened on 4 July 1833, but financial difficulties restricted its patient intake a year later until eased by donations from Henry Cowper who also endowed the post of Chaplain, and subsequently invested a sum to pay the salary of the resident Medical Secretary, George Towers MD. The name changed to Hertford County Hospital in 1908, and a new wing was built followed by substantial reconstruction in 1916, and a further wing, whose foundation stone was laid by Edward Prince of Wales in 1922, and further additions in 1932, progressively covering the original spacious landscaped gardens. The National Health Service took over the hospital in

1947. (Turnor L: History of Hertford: Hertford: 1830-: 308-12; The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Hertfordshire: Harmondsworth: 1977-: 189; Green L: Hertford's Past in pictures: Ware: 1993-: 45; Felstead A: Directory of British Architects 1834-1900: London: 1993-; Heath C: Hertford County Hospital - 150th Anniversary: Hertford: 1983-; Hertford County Museum: Hertford County Hospital, About Hertford: Hertford; Colvin H: A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840: London: 1978-).

Listing NGR: TL3187912628

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 461397
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Colvin, H M, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, (1978)
Felstead, A, Directory of British Architects 1834-1900, (1993)
Green, L, Hertfords Past in Pictures, (1993)
Heath, C, Hertford County Hospital 150th Anniversary, (1983)
Hertford County Museum, , Hertford County Hospital About Hertford
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977), 189
Turnor, L , History of Hertford, (1830), 308-312

Legal

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