24, Castle Street

HERTFORD

TL3212SE CASTLE STREET 817-1/20/30 (North side) 10/02/50 No.24

GV II

Castle gatehouse and lodge, now converted and extended as solicitors' offices. c1800, arch infilled and building extended westwards early C20. Yellow-brown stock brick, Flemish bond, with red dressings, Welsh slated, and lead flat roofs concealed behind castellated parapets with stone copings and red brick Tudor style clustered shafted octagonal chimneys. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. The right-hand section with 2 octagonal turrets was the gateway to the castle, and had a high central Tudor arch, infilled c1904, and replaced by a 4-light wood casement window, with arched Tudor heads, in the same style as the original, of 2 lights on the first floor above. The turrets have machicolations and a Lombard frieze. To left is former lodge, with a recessed 2-storey link with 3-light windows ground and first floors, then a higher block, 2 left-hand bays original, with two 3-light windows on first floor, ground floor with 4-light window and projecting porch, yellow brick with red dressings, with Tudor arched opening and castellated parapet. Building extended 3 bays in line further west c1904, first floor with 3 windows, one, now centre, double length, 2 below, with basement window beneath longer stair window. Rear elevation much altered with modern windows. INTERIOR: much altered during office conversion. Room above arch has vaulted ceiling; stair in 1904 extensions close string dogleg plan with narrow open well, balusters with pulvinated square columns and newels, moulded oak handrail. Together with No.20 (qv) this building is the headquarters of Longmores the solicitors, who as a family had served the Borough as Town Clerks, and the County Council over several generations since the 1830s. (Hertfordshire Countryside: Forrester H: Hertford homes in Georgian days: Letchworth: 1946-1961: 150-152; Green L: Hertford's Past in pictures: Ware: 1993-: 21).

Listing NGR: TL3258612446