Gates To The Grounds Of Hertford Castle (Hertford Castle Demolished)

HERTFORD

TL3212NE THE WASH 817-1/17/236 (East side) Gates to the grounds of Hertford Castle (Hertford Castle demolished)

GV II

Gates, piers, and flanking balustrades. 1912. Architect James Farley. Terracotta and wrought-iron. Twin leaf carriage gates in centre, with spears, scrolls, quatrefoils and embattled upper rails, with projecting scrollwork tops to suggest an overthrow. Gates letter 'HERTFORD CASTLE'. Smaller scale pedestrian gates of similar style left and right. Octagonal Gothic style terracotta piers, with plinths, roll mouldings, cavetto mouldings and recessed panels above, with blind moulded trefoil-head tracery. Octagonal offset caps to main piers with modelled lions holding shields with Borough arms. Other piers simpler and lower, with moulded octahedral caps. Gateway set back from kerb line, with curved balustrades left and right, having plinths moulded column-on-urn balustrades, and moulded top rail, terminating in low octagonal piers. Commemorative plaques record that the gates were presented by Osmond Henry McMullen, Mayor of Hertford and were opened by James Edward Humbert Gascoyne, Marquess of Salisbury, on July 27 1912. The Salisbury family are freeholders of Hertford Castle, and the gates commemorate the presentation of a long lease on the castle to the town, at a peppercorn rent. (Green L: Hertford's Past in pictures: Ware: 1993-: 19).

Listing NGR: TL3254612595