Westbrook Hay School

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