22, 24-26 and 28, Parliament Square

Nos. 22, 24-26 and 28 in Parliament Square, Hertford, are houses that have been converted into shops with first-floor offices. They date from the 17th century, with alterations made in the 18th century and further changes in the 20th century. The buildings are timber-framed, featuring a colourwashed brick front and a red brick rear, laid in Flemish bond with some overburnt headers. The triple roof is covered with old tiles and has hipped ends separated by valleys at the rear, along with red brick chimneys that have oversailing courses and clay pots.

On the exterior, the first-floor front showcases three recessed early 20th-century timber three-light mullion and transom windows with plain glazing and divided glazing in the upper vents. The ground floor has three early 20th-century shopfronts, with the center unit renewed around the 1980s. These shopfronts have a pilaster surround, cut consoles with a dentil course, and a cavetto moulded cornice above the fascia. The rear elevation features a single first-floor sash window with divided glazing on the left, along with two plain casement windows from the 20th century. There is also a small Tudor-arched casement window at the extreme left of No. 28. Late 20th-century lean-tos at the rear of Nos. 24 and 28 are not considered of special interest.

Inside, the ground floor has been significantly altered and opened up. There is a spine wall that includes a former rear washhouse, which may be an 18th-century addition. The roof has been extensively renewed using sawn timbers.