Boblow House

TL 64 SE HELIONS BUMPSTEAD WATER LANE 2/35 Boblow House (formerly 21/6/62 listed under General) II*

Building of uncertain purpose, probably a hunting lodge, C16, altered in C19. Timber framed with large red brick chimney stacks forming gables, other walls clad with painted brick, C19, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. 3 bays aligned approximately N-S, the middle bay shorter than the others. At N end, single-storey extension of 2 parallel ranges with hipped roofs, C19. 2 storeys and attics. E elevation, glazed door with bracketed gabled hood, C19. 2 windows on each floor, under alteration at time of survey, October 1983. At the N end of the original building a large brick chimney stack has hearths at both floors, at first floor level a dummy window, mullioned and transomed to form 6 'lights', all hollow-moulded, with ovolo-moulded pediment, all in brick. At attic floor a rectangular window between the 2 flues, jambs and sill hollow- moulded, arch repaired. 3 octagonal shafts, of which the middle one is a dummy, with C19 brick head. At the S end a similar chimney stack, but incorporating a timber-framed garderobe at first-floor level, no dummy window or dummy shaft, but with the attic window hollow-moulded all round. Axial beams plain- chamfered, joists of horizontal section unchamfered. S ground floor hearth, brick depressed arch, hollow-moulded, mutilated. N ground floor hearth has ovolo-moulded brick jambs, mantel beam mutilated, moulded plaster frieze with vertical ridges. S first floor hearth, off-centre because of garderobe, brick depressed arch, roll-moulded with recessed spandrels. N first floor hearth, has brick depressed arch, chamfered, with recessed spandrels. To each side, semi- octagonal attached shafts with moulded bases. Moulded plaster frieze with vertical ridges and ovolo-moulded cornice. Transverse and axial beams above first floor, plain-chamfered, joists plastered to soffits. Clasped purlin roof with gauging holes in rafters. 2 dormers in W pitch of roof, either inserted or enlarged. This unusual building is sited on top of a rounded hill, with long views in all directions. The concentration of ornamental features at the north end suggests that the original approach was from the N, but the present access is from the S, facing the garderobe. The site is moated. The building is too small to be a house, of the level of fashion indicated by its internal and external features, and there is no indication of other parts demolished. The most probable explanation is that it was built as a hunting lodge, to oversee a deer park and to provide short-term accommodation for a hunting party. RCHM 4.

Listing NGR: TL6530940515