Port Hill House

HERTFORD

TL3213SW BYDE STREET, Bengeo 817-1/15/274 (North side) 12/04/73 Port Hill House (Formerly Listed as: FARQHUAR STREET Porthill House)

II

House, formerly farmhouse. C17, altered C19 and C20. Colourwashed brick north range, stuccoed south range. Old tiled double gabled roofs. Double-depth plan, with entrance now central against extended house. 5 bays, originally 3. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attics. North elevation of first floor has three 4-light wood casement windows with divided glazing, alternating with 2-light, that right of centre extended downwards to form landing window; plat band at first-floor level. Ground floor with two 2-light and two 4-light wood casement windows, with broad 4-light casement windows in outer bays left and right, beneath segmental brick arches. Central Regency style porch with cambered segmental arch and a concave metal canopy roof; early C20 half-glazed door and sidelights beneath broad segmental traceried fanlight. Single storey lean-to at left. South elevation remodelled early C20, 5 bays with 2-light and 4-light metal casement windows with leaded glazing. Recessed loggia in centre on ground floor. Attics with 3 gabled casement dormers on north and south elevations. Red brick chimneys, those on east above substantial external chimneybreasts, with long cream tapered terracotta pots with projecting rims. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: Port Hill House was the home of Thomas Dimsdale, the pioneer of Smallpox inoculation, and the building was known as 'The Inoculation House'. In 1763 The Old Pest House (qv) was built to the south on a plot adjoining Dimsdale's garden. (Hertfordshire Countryside: Roberts E: Thomas Dimsdale and the Victory over Smallpox: -1980: 20-1).

Listing NGR: TL3215313326