Hoddesdon Quaker Meeting House

The Hoddesdon Quaker Meeting House, built in 1828 to a design by William Alderson, stands within the Quaker burial ground on Lord Street, oriented north-south. Later alterations have been made. The building is constructed of yellow bricks laid in a Flemish bond pattern, featuring moulded stone dressings, and is roofed with slates.

The building has a rectangular plan with a pitched roof, and is complemented by single-storey, flat-roofed wings on either side of the main (north) front. The east wing is one bay deep, while the west wing is two bays deep, incorporating a link built in 1978.

The north front is divided into three bays and surmounted by a brick and moulded stone pediment. The central bay contains the main entrance, approached by a short flight of two stone steps with ornamental iron boot scrapers and simple iron handrails. The double-leaf entrance door is set within a detailed architrave, topped with an ornamental transom light, and sheltered by a shallow stone hood supported by consoles carved with foliage. Flanking the entrance are six-over-six sash windows, each with matching moulded architraves. A small date stone is positioned above the door. The east and west elevations each feature a pair of six-over-six sash windows illuminating the main meeting room, while the south elevation is plain. The pitched roof is covered with slates. The flat-roofed wings on the north side have recessed blind panels with flat arches.

Inside, the meeting house comprises four principal spaces. A small lobby leads in from the main entrance, with two small retiring rooms on either side, one of which has been converted into a toilet and the other connecting to the 1978 link. A double-leaf door opens from the lobby into the main meeting room, which has a panelled timber dado, plastered walls, and a flat ceiling with a plain moulded cornice. The north wall’s panelling, extending to the height of the door opening, incorporates shutters between the meeting room and the retiring rooms. The Elders’ stand occupies the full length of the south wall, built on a dais accessed by short flights of steps at each end. It features two ranks of fixed benches with panelled backs and carved armrests.