Bridgefoot House And Town Council Offices

Bridgefoot House and Town Council Offices began as Buntingford Union Workhouse in 1836, and later served as a hostel, halls, and offices. A southwest wing was added in 1872, originally designed as a board room, clerk's office, and large dining room. The building is constructed from yellow brick with red brick at the rear, and has slate roofs. It is a large, symmetrical structure facing west, featuring a projecting centre that rises from a high basement and two storeys, flanked by two-storey wings. A matching 1872 extension, serving as Town Council Offices, is attached to the southwest corner. The building has a heavy dentilled brick cornice and a central pediment. The main façade features a 1:3:3:3:1 window arrangement. The southwest extension comprises five windows, with two windows across the pedimented west end. The original workhouse has recessed pivoting wooden windows with small panes. Margin-light sash windows are found in the 1872 extension, with a glazed canopy along the north side. The main entrance is through a six-panel moulded door, accessed by nine steps and set within a stucco Doric pilastered surround with a full entablature. The workhouse was originally designed to serve 16 surrounding parishes and to accommodate 160 inmates.