The Old Rectory

THE OLD RECTORY

A house formerly used as a rectory, set within a landscaped park at St Mary's Lane, Hertingfordbury. The building dates from the 17th century with 18th and early 19th century extensions, and underwent alteration in the 1930s. It is constructed of yellow stock brick and red brick in English and Flemish bonds, with timber framing, plaster and stucco. The roofs are Welsh slated.

The original 17th century structure comprises a five-bay east wing, which was extended to the west during the 18th century, aligned with the south face to create a seven-bay south elevation. Early 19th century and 1930s internal alterations followed.

The building stands two storeys with attics. The south elevation displays a yellow stock brick front over earlier stucco. On the first floor are seven windows set deeply into the masonry. The two windows flanking each gable have 12-pane sashes with Regency Gothick traceried heads and architraves contained within lancet arches, now set within tall rectangular openings with stuccoed lintels. Three tall sashes occupy the centre, with flat heads and louvred shutters. The ground floor features tall eight-panel French windows with two-pane transom lights and louvred shutters positioned towards each gable. Two twelve-pane sash windows with louvred shutters flank a central French window with a blind box head.

The east elevation is stuccoed and displays 2-light and single storey lattice glazed casements on the first floor. A 19th century yellow brick porch with a chamfered Tudor arch contains double-leaf lattice half-glazed doors topped by an arched lattice glazed fanlight and dripmould. Above is a moulded brick coped parapet gable with kneelers. A projecting turret of red brick in English bond contains a staircase to the attic.

The rear north elevation exposes timber studwork with flush-set 12-pane sash windows on the first and ground floors at the left. A 1930s lean-to extension has large lattice leaded mullion and transom hardwood windows on both floors, the ground floor incorporating a Tudor style half-glazed door.

The roofs feature tall parapet gables at the front. A gambrel roof spans the rear of the east wing and includes a gabled leaded casement dormer. Red and yellow brick chimneystacks punctuate the roofline.

The interior retains many period features. The ground floor entrance hall was panelled in the 1930s and includes a Tudor arch with carved corbels representing Gog and Magog. The study contains an early 19th century grate with a reeded cast-iron surround featuring pulvinated moulding and rosettes. The Drawing Room displays a 19th century coved cornice with a Greek key band and paterae, along with an elaborate fire surround featuring Ionic columns and a reed frieze, probably reset in the late 19th century. The Smoking Room retains reproduction Jacobean oak panelling brought from Essendon Place and an elaborate late 19th century fireplace. The Dining Room features an ornate Italianate carved fireplace with consoles, frieze decorated with putti, scrollwork and grotesques.

The polished oak newel stair has an open string, barleysugar twist balusters on urns, and moulded handrails. Some bedrooms retain 18th century cornices, including a dentil cornice in the front west bedroom, and an 18th century fire surround is present in the centre east room. The attic stair is an 18th century dogleg newel type with stick balusters and moulded handrail, with a 19th century back stair below the first floor and a blocked window on the half landing.

The attics at the east are ceiled at collar level with exposed principal timbers. The rear dormer features moulded mullions and lattice glazing, including a late 17th century iron window catch. The attics contain late 17th century doors with two small panels, plain architraves and strap hinges. The roof over the front range is constructed with king post and tie beam trusses supporting purlins and a thin ridgeboard. The upper roof above the attics was not accessible for inspection.

From 1929, the house was home to Robert Addis, who established a toothbrush factory on the Ware Road in Hertford following the First World War. The house and gardens were substantially embellished during the 1930s.