Brickendon Bury

TL 31 SW BRICKENDON LIBERTY BRICKENDON LANE (East side)

1/37 Brickendon Bury 24.11.66

GV II

Country house, now laboratories and offices. Early C18 for Thomas Clarke on moated site. Rear S and E parts c.1760 for Morgan family. Alterations and W service wing early C19 for William Dent. Alterations and central tower 1885-6 for Charles Grey Hill and probably the free-standing porte couchere. Modernised for George Pearson in 1890's and extensively altered and extended c.1909 for Sir Edward Pearson, civil engineer (upper parts of W end S fronts and Jacobean Room). By 1919 the estate has its own electric generator, telephone, central heating and fire station. Used as prep school when in 1939 became HQ of Special Operations Executive (Europe) and visited by Sir Winston Churchill. After war HQ National Agricultural Advisory Service up to late 1960's. Purchased 1971 by present owners Malaysian Rubber Producers Research Association. Original house red brick with stone quoins and giant order pilasters to front, now brickwork stuccoed and all extensions. Bath stone porte couchere. Slate hanging to gabled dormers on E and half timbering on S. 3 parallel-ridged slate roofs. 2-storeys and attics house set in parkland on ancient moated site facing North with long avenue extending to Hertford on main axis. 9-windows N front has windows 2:1:3:1:2 with taller Corinthian pilasters, and higher cornice to middle bay, carrying a triangular pediment with circular window. Balustrade and parapet with dies over entablature of outer bays are a later addition. 1st floor band and rusticated quoins. Tall, slightly recessed box sashes with 6/6 panes on 1st floor and 9/1 on ground floor. Central small timber porch links to single-storey 3-bays stone arcaded Doric porte couchere on axis. Lower 2-storeys parapeted service wing set back on W, and tall square stucco tower with balustrade and arched chimneys central on each side, S-front 9 windows long with sashed wide dormers, central canted bay and Tuscan stone colonnade or loggia along whole front. Blind boxes to 1st floor 6/1 panes sash windows. French windows to ground floor. Interior has 2-storeys entrance hall with gallery, 4 rooms with gilt plaster decoration to walls cornices and decorative plaster ceilings in Adam style. Fine moulded mahogany 6-panels doors and staircase (renewed). (VCH (1912)409: Kelly (1914)135: Pevsner (1977)110: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL3304210424