The Manor House

The Manor House is a country house dating back to the late medieval period, likely early 16th century. It was probably rebuilt for Thomas Gulston before 1591, and subsequently altered and faced with brick for John Marriott between 1714 and 1716 – a contract with a Watford bricklayer specifies 1716. In 1911-12, symmetrical north and south wings were added for Samuel Blackwell, extending the original seven-window front.

The house is built of red brick with hipped roofs covered with old red tiles hidden behind parapets. It originated as a two-bay open hall house of the late medieval period, with two crosswings positioned flush to the ground floor hall. A gabled 17th-century stair wing and further 17th-century rear additions create six gables, which were refaced around 1912. The west front, eleven windows long, features a panelled parapet, eaves band, and string course, with flush box sash windows having flat gauged arches and 6/6 panes. A drawing linked to the 1714 contract shows original mullioned windows and a parapet without panels.

A central doorway has a broad eight-panel raised and fielded door sheltered by a flat hood supported on shaped brackets with fluted pilasters and a full entablature with a swelled frieze. Projecting end wings, dating from around 1912 in a matching style, are included, along with a brick cornice over their first-floor windows. The rear wall chimney on the right-hand side is structured with conjoined diagonal shafts. Decorative caps adorn the end chimneys of the central portion.

Inside, the building retains evidence of a late medieval open hall with a crown-post roof, featuring a plain post and 4-way bracing. The south crosswing has heavy, plain joists and a jetty. The north wing has been largely gutted. Notable interior features include an ovolo-moulded inserted floor beam, a 4-centred hall fireplace set into a chimney with diagonal shafts, and large curved braces to a floor beam. The current staircase dates from around 1714. The panelling includes painted coats of arms of the Kettell family, moved to the house in 1852 when Robert Blackwell demolished the former Manor House in Kings Langley High Street and transferred the name and panelling to this property, previously a farm known as Pingelsgate. Other features include panelled rooms and wall paintings.