3 And 4, Ayres End Lane

The following buildings shall be added to the list:-

TL11SW 270-1/5/10005

HARPENDEN AYRES END LANE (North side) Nos.3 AND 4

GV II

One of two pairs of semi-detached cottages. Formerly estate cottages built for the Childwick Bury Stud estate. Circa 1890. In a Domestic Revival style, possibly by Col.R.W.Edis FRIBA, for Sir John Blundell Maple M.P., founder of the stud. Red brick with brighter red brick details, tile hanging to the front on the first floor, and applied timber framing with roughcast panels in the front gables; roof of plain tiles with two bands of of fish scale tiles on each slope, gables with deep verges and barge boards, a central ridge stack with brick dentil cornice and a similar stack at each end, all with ceramic pots. Plan: mirror image cottages within a central lateral range and, at each end of the range, a cross wing projecting to front and rear. Exterior: two storeys; symmetrical front with a raised band at first floor level; on the ground floor in the front gable wall of each cross wing an entrance doorway with vertical boarded door: to right in the left hand wing and to left in the right hand wing, each within a porch with a lean-to tiled roof supported on two timber posts; flanking each doorway a four-light metal casement window with glazing bars [3x4 panes in each light], with Gothic heads to the top row of panes, in opening with shallow, segmental, brick-arched head, and in the central range two three-light casements with similar details; on the first floor in the gable-end wall of each cross wing a three light casement window with small diamond panes set in metal glazing bars, and in the central range two smaller three-light casements with similar details; in the gables of the cross wings curved braces to the posts in the two central panels of the applied timber framing. In rear elevation one and two-light casements with diamond pane glazing similar to front. The applied timber framing, casement frames and projecting window sills all painted white. Interiors: not inspected.

Listing NGR: TL1448111654