43 And 45, Benington Road

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 21/09/2012

TL 2722 12/14

ASTON Aston village BENINGTON ROAD (south side) Nos 43 and 45

GV II*

House, now 2 houses. Mid to late C16, fittings of C17 and early C18, subsequently divided. Timber frame on painted brick sill, plastered with a steep old red tile roof. A 2-storeys and attics, 2-cell, central chimney, originally lobby entrance plan house facing W. 2 wide bays with a narrow central chimney bay. Only S room heated on upper floor. Symmetrical front now has 2 2-storeys shallow rectangular bay windows, a small central upper window, and 2 4-panel doors beside the bay windows. Slated and plastered lean-to on LH (N) end with weatherboarding on gable. Cruciform central chimney plastered. Interior has axial beams, bolection moulded fire surround on 1st floor S room and 2 early C18 surrounds on ground floor. Clasped purlin roof has butt purlins for dormer window over the bays. Straight wind braces in rear slope. Unheated first floor north chamber has a painted scheme of the early C17, agreeable with dated examples elsewhere in Hertfordshire of 1605, 4 painted walls with elaborate Jacobean Strapwork panelling, with stiles, rails, arabesques and diamonds, colours of yellow, dark red, pale red and black outline. An upper frieze with partly decipherable sententious or pious texts, perhaps from a common source book with those at Pirton Grange, Hertfordshire. Included at Grade II* as a perhaps complete decorative scheme in an otherwise modern house.

Listing NGR: TL2754022722