Twyford House

Twyford House is a mid-17th-century mansion, altered and refaced around 1715, with further alterations in 1835 (by Lewis Vulliamy), 1894 (by F S Brereton), and 1912. It was divided into flats in 1970 and largely gutted to eradicate dry rot between 1980 and 1981.

The building is 2 storeys with attics, topped by a steep hipped red tile roof and central cupola. It follows a double-depth plan with a kitchen wing to the rear (south-west). The original mid-17th-century structure was built in red brick in English bond, probably for the Hale family, who were owners from 1650. The front range on the east side retains structural posts flanking a central chimney on the north side of the central hall, and pairs of axial girder beams. On the south side of the hall, beams with mortices define a cross passage or possibly another central chimney, though a 19th-century chimney was later inserted further south. Foundations indicate a rear stair hall and two service rooms to the north of it in the original arrangement.

The house was cased in fine red brickwork with sash windows around 1715. The symmetrical east front features 9 windows with an advanced, pedimented 3-window centre, little changed from the early 18th-century work. It is executed in Flemish bond with a plinth, floor band, and wood modillioned eaves cornice. Rubbed brick flat arches frame slightly recessed box sashes with 6/6 panes and moulded architraves. The fine early 18th-century central doorcase has fluted pilasters on high moulded bases supporting fine carved floral consoles and full entablature with swelled frieze, modillioned cornice, and triangular pediment. The round-headed opening has an eared moulded architrave with high relief carved foliage in the spandrels. A 19th-century flush panelled reveal and overdoor, and a 6-panelled door with planted mouldings, are later insertions.

The north flank has 4 blind recesses on each floor corresponding to the front windows. An octagonal cupola rises above the rear range on a tall panelled square base with clock faces to east and west and a projecting dentilled cornice. The cupola lacks a wind vane; a bell noted in 1967 was said to be dated 1665. An oval window in the front pediment features radial glazing bars. The 4 hipped dormers with 6/6 pane sash windows and tall octagonal chimney shafts are late additions. The kitchen wing was remodelled in 1835 and 1894, and the large square north-west bay was probably added in 1912.

A wooden doorcase to the rear door differs from that shown in Buckler's drawing of 1834 (Hertfordshire Record Office). It has three-quarter engaged oval columns, fluted for half their height, with echinus mouldings on the capitals and moulded bases. The full entablature has echinus to corona and circular sinkings in the mutules, with a planted central panel in the frieze featuring a moulded sunk centre.

Surviving interior features include an early 19th-century dividing staircase with cut string, stick balusters, and simple moulded handrail. In the front hall is an 18th-century wooden fire surround with marble slips, moulded eared architrave, and full entablature with swelled frieze and key pattern below the corona, surrounded by small-panelled oak panelling. A 19th-century oak fire surround near the staircase is carved with a mantled and helmeted shield and the motto "Frere Ayme Frere".

The house is described in Elizabeth Grant's Memoirs of a Highland Lady (she lived there 1806–1807) and is associated with Cecil Rhodes, whose uncle Arthur Rhodes lived there from 1860 to 1871.