Cecil House

Cecil House, Hertford

House, now offices. The main house was built between 1774 and 1778 by William Hanscomb under licence from the Gascoyne Cecil, Earl of Salisbury's estates. An outshut incorporating some reused 17th-century timber was added. The building served as a surgery until the mid-1960s and is now used as offices.

The exterior is constructed of dark red-brown brick in Flemish bond with orange-red dressings. The sides and rear are stuccoed. The roof behind the front parapet is old tiled with a double 'M' profile, fitted with brick chimneys bearing projecting bands. The rear outshut has an old tile roof.

The building follows a double-depth plan with four main rooms arranged around a central staircase-hall, with a central service stair to the right. The front elevation comprises a five-bay block of three storeys and basement. The first floor has five slightly recessed 12-pane sash windows with exposed boxes, set under red rubbed flat arches with red brick jambs. The second floor contains five 9-pane sashes. The ground floor has four 12-pane sashes, with segmental-arched openings to the basement at pavement level. Plat bands run at the first and second floors and above the second-floor windows.

The central doorcase exemplifies Strawberry Hill Gothic style. It features a recessed six-panel traceried door with upper glazing, and a traceried four-light fanlight recessed within matching traceried panelled reveals. Flat pilasters flank the opening, from which projects a tented open-gabled canopy roof. The design includes an eaves cornice, traceried frieze at the sides, and slender clustered columns with amulet rings and projecting bases, with matching responds. A shallow stone slab step leads to the porch, with a nosed stone step at the entrance.

The rear elevation shows irregular fenestration with landing sash windows dropped a half floor. A two-storey rear outshoot is present, with the first floor (formerly a hayloft until 1965) fitted with 20th-century casement windows and one flush-set sash at the right. The ground floor contains two 16-pane sashes and a central door.

The principal rooms were remodelled in the late 19th century. Six-panel doors on the ground floor bear Art Nouveau brass fingerplates. The hall retains a late 18th-century panelled dado. The former kitchen extends into the rear outshoot and features a brick-arched fireplace. The dogleg stair has a close string, Tuscan column newels, a moulded handrail, and a panelled dado. The service stair displays a country Chippendale balustrade.

First-floor rooms retain 18th-century moulded wood cornices with double cyma and frieze profiles. The front right-hand room has a fire surround with eared architrave. The large rear room extends into the outshoot and features a long chamfered beam with tongue (possibly reused from an earlier building on the site), an 18th-century cornice, panelling, dado, and a door with 'L' pattern hinges. The attics contain substantial cupboards.

The roof structure includes riven rafters, a thin ridge board, side purlins, and collars above the attic ceilings. Cellar access is located below the back stair and main stair. The cellar has brick walls and floor, battened doors, three main compartments, a vaulted wine cellar, and a coal cellar.

This was a substantial town house, notable for its fashionable porch and doorcase. Its name reflects its connection to the Salisbury family.