Western House

Western House is a former workhouse of the Ware Poor Law Institution, built between 1839 and 1840 and converted into flats in 1993-1994. It was designed by Brown & Herman from London. The building features a stucco front block topped with a Welsh slated roof behind a parapet. It is a single-storey structure with a plinth, frieze, and cornice.

At the center, there is a pedimented portico with outer Doric pillars flanking Greek Ionic columns, all set on a plinth that is interrupted by a central flight of steps leading up to a glazed double door and a rectangular fanlight, which is surrounded by an eared architrave. Between the Doric pilasters, there are two tall three-light sash windows with glazing bars.

The layout follows the panopticon plan designed by Jeremy Bentham, featuring four back wings that radiate diagonally from a tall central octagon. The windows in these wings have hinged lights, glazing bars, reveals, and flat arches, with single-storey end wings.