1, FORE STREET

1, FORE STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1268926
Date first listed:
09-Sept-1996
List Entry Name:
1, FORE STREET
Statutory Address:
1, FORE STREET
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Date:
2007-01-10
Reference:
IOE01/15563/12
Rights:
© Mr A. Gude. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1268926
Date first listed:
09-Sept-1996
List Entry Name:
1, FORE STREET
Statutory Address 1:
1, FORE STREET

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:
1, FORE STREET

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 32620 12563

Details

HERTFORD

TL3212NE FORE STREET
817-1/17/59 (North side)
No.1

GV II

Publishing house and printing works, now offices. Early/mid
C19, with C20 alterations. Stuccoed and colourwashed brick
front, brown stock brick,laid to Flemish bond, to flanks and
rear, below Welsh slated mansard roof. Parapet front
(balustrade removed mid C20), parapeted ends and tall light
brown brick stack with 4 clustered shafts right of centre.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attics above basement, 5 bay facade.
First floor has 4 long sash windows with divided glazing,
central French windows with divided glazing and 2-light
fanlight in moulded architrave surround, (full width first
floor balcony removed mid C20). Projecting bands at first
floor and second floor sill levels, rusticated quoins left and
right and flanking centre bay which breaks slightly forward.
Second floor with 4 sashes, and central French windows with
moulded architrave surround, balcony carried on modelled
brackets and modillions (low balustrade removed mid C20 and
moulded cornice cut back to band above second-floor windows).
Ground floor rusticated, with 5 semicircular headed openings
with moulded impost band; panelled double leaf C20 doors with
semicircular fanlights left and right, 3 centre recessed
closed plate-glazed windows, with semicircular upper lights,
having segmentally arched spandrel panels below and recessed
grille vents to basement. To roof 5 box dormers with 9-pane
sashes above parapet front.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
HISTORICAL NOTE: from 1854 this building was the headquarters
of Stephen Austin, a printer and publisher who had begun
operations in Hertford in 1768, and in conjunction with work
for the East India College at Haileybury gained a reputation
for foreign language printing. In 1772 the firm commenced
publication of 'The Hertfordshire Mercury', and sold the
interest in the late 1980s: a bronze statue of Mercury stands
on the second floor balcony. The main printing operation moved
to Ware in 1954.
(Green L: Hertford's Past in pictures: Ware: 1993-: 100-101;
Page FM: History of Hertford: Hertford: 1993-:
128,146,178,180-1).



Listing NGR: TL3262012563

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
461305
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Page, F M, History of Hertford, (1993), 128 146
Page, F M, History of Hertford, (1993), 178 180-1
Green, L, Hertfords Past in Pictures, (1993), 100-101

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 1, FORE STREET

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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