Westbrook Hay School

WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1348435
Date first listed:
02-Dec-1986
List Entry Name:
Westbrook Hay School
Statutory Address:
WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)

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Location

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Date:
1999-10-20
Reference:
IOE01/00504/21
Rights:
© Susan Hall. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1348435
Date first listed:
02-Dec-1986
List Entry Name:
Westbrook Hay School
Statutory Address 1:
WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)
Statutory Address 2:
WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)

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:
WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)
Statutory Address:
WESTBROOK HAY SCHOOL, LONDON ROAD (A41)

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

County:
Hertfordshire
District:
Dacorum (District Authority)
Parish:
Bovingdon
National Grid Reference:
TL 02582 05494

Details

BOVINGDON OFF LONDON ROAD (A41) TL 00 NW Hemel Hempstead (west side) 4/31 Westbrook Hay School - - II

Country house, now a school. Mid C18 possibly with older parts, central pedimented top storey and flanking roofs added between 1800 and 1840, refronted and extended both sides giving present appearance in 1850's. The seat of the Ryder family. Used by RAF in 2nd World War: the Hemel Hempstead New Town Commission thereafter. Became a school 1963. Red brick, largely stuccoed, with slate roofs. A large irregular country house with N entrance front, garden fronts on W and S and ancillary buildings attached on E. 2-storeys, part attics, and basements. Oldfield drawing c.1800 (HRO) shows a 7-bays long, 2-storeys and basement, brick house with parapet and 3-bays projecting centre. Buckler drawing c.1840 (HRO) shows a 3-storeys pedimented centre and steeper roofs. 1850's alterations provided new reception rooms on W, a new facade 12ft in advance of the old N front and 70ft long with a grand porch all in stucco, as well as extended service quarters. N front of 2-storeys and 7-bays, has plinth, minor cornice, dentilled major cornice, and a roof balustrade with dies. 2nd and 6th bays project with panelled pilasters flanking the windows. Pilastered cubic porch with 3/4 Ionic columns flanking entrance with half-glazed double doors. Similar doors give access to hall. Recessed sash windows with moulded lugged surrounds to ground floor and an entablature on trusses to 1st floor. Armorial centrepiece to parapet. Older front extends to LH set back. Red brick 2 storeys and basement. Gauged flat arches but windows 6/6 recessed have Egyptian style architraves with lugs . Upper floor has band at sill level in stucco. 3 receding planes of wall and 2 windows. W Garden front 2 storeys. Central 2 storey 3 window segmental bay projecting, 1 window to LH and then narrow 1 window wing. On RH single storey 3 window projecting bay with parapet and triplet of windows above central one with entablature on trusses. Similar to bay. Glazed verandah in cast iron columns and openwork brackets at rear. Portland stone terrace of 3 steps with central landing and 3 more steps. Stone octagon table on landing with leaf carved pedestal. S front central 2 storeys segmental bay windows 3 with balustrade at 1st floor. LH triple sash over French window, RH 3 window projecting wing with former conservatory now dining room in W side. Pump attached to end of wing. Bleak 2 storeys and attics 5 window stucco wing to RH with pretty Gothick 9 bay wooden cloister with trefoil spandrels to arched beams for posts. Higher central W end barge- boarded gable to front (S). Formal terrace garden to W and remains of flint grotto garden to S. (Pevsner(1977)183: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL0258205494

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
157558
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977), 183

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 Westbrook Hay School

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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