Vasanta Hall
VASANTA HALL, GERNON WALK
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1390556
- Date first listed:
- 08-Aug-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Vasanta Hall
- Statutory Address:
- VASANTA HALL, GERNON WALK
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1390556
- Date first listed:
- 08-Aug-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Vasanta Hall
- Statutory Address 1:
- VASANTA HALL, GERNON WALK
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:
- VASANTA HALL, GERNON WALK
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- North Hertfordshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TL 21818 32382
Details
948/0/10006 GERNON WALK 08-AUG-03 Letchworth Garden City Vasanta Hall
II Meeting Hall for Theosophical Society. 1914 by W.H. Cowlishaw (1869-1957) with planned extension executed 1922 by Crickmer and Foxley, and minor late-C20 alterations. Brown brick with concrete flat roofs. Single storey meeting hall with semi-circular entrance wing.
EXTERIOR: EAST elevation has high 3-light casement under shallow segmental arch, set into flat concrete roof band with brick dentil course, corner pilasters and red brick band below window level. To left, lower bay has 2-bay arcaded entrance with brick pier and flint spandrel, recessed entrance with late-C20 door and windows. Curved wall continues in a semi-circle, joining the rear rooms added in 1922, similarly detailed, with late-C20 windows in original openings. Plaque at base indicates first sod cut Feb 11th 1914. NORTH elevation has 3 high 3-light casements above a pair of single replaced lights flanking the chimneybreast capped with semi-circular pediment above roof.
INTERIOR: Main meeting room has beaded beams and joists, shallow brick wall niche and dais with pair of paintings signed by H. Wooller 1922 to east end, copper plaque with Art Nouveau style lettering: 'TO THE STUDY OF THE DIVINE WISDOM THIS HOUSE IS DEDICATED BY ITS BUILDING AD 1914', panelled pocket doors, and painted board that reads 'THERE IS NO RELIGION HIGHER THAN TRUTH' to west end. Pair of toilet rooms in curve of the semi-circular entrance wing.
HISTORY: The Theosophical Society, founded 1875, was one of many religious and spiritual movements active in the early Garden City movement. The hall was opened on 1 June 1914 by Mrs Annie Besant. Cowlishaw also designed 'The Cloisters' in Letchworth, which is listed Grade II*.
SOURCE: Mervyn Miller, 'Letchworth The First Garden City'
An unusual building of 1914 that represents a spiritual movement within Letchworth, the first Garden City, a community characterised by its socialist and spiritualist ideals.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 490494
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 08-Jul-2026 at 05:01:08.
Download a full scale map (PDF)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.