Number 27 Including Gates And Gatepiers Adjoining South Side

The following buildings shall be added:-

TL 1406 NE HOLYWELL HILL

14/333 No 27 (Including gates and gatepiers adjoining south side)

GV II

Offices. 1910-11 by Percival C. Blow for Messrs Ryder and Sons, seed and bulb merchants. English bond red brick with stone dressings and granite ashlar plinth. Plain tile hipped roof behind parapet. Double depth plan with central entrance hall with stair-well behind 4 main offices flanking at front and rear. Combination of Arts and Crafts and Wrenaissance styles. 2 storeys and basement. Symmetrical 1:3:1 bay west front with stone modillion cornice continuing around projecting end bays which have banded pilasters with wreaths in their friezes and slightly bowed 4-light stone mullion transom first and second floor windows with leaded panes; between the first and second floor windows large carved stone reliefs depicting agricultural scenes of ploughing, sewing and harvesting with large figures of a god and goddess. At centre steps to stone portico with composite half-column panel in frieze dated 1911 and segmented pediment containing fielded panel double doors and overlight; flanked by stone cross-mullion-transom, windows with keystones in flat brick arches: band above and 3 first floor bullseye window with moulded terracotta festoons. Including gateway and adjoining right (south) with stone banded brick piers on granite plinths and with moulded caps and ornate cast-iron double gates to carriageway with balusters and geometric patterns. Interior: largely unaltered and containing many original features including:- Entrance lobby with vaulted tiled ceiling and pilastered and pedimented mahogany screen. Staircase with mahogany balustrade with wreathed handrail and moulded balusters. Stairs, landing and central first floor office lit by domes with leaded stained glass panes and with moulded trailing vine pilaster- work on walls. Front right hand first floor office has mahogany chimneypiece with segmental pedimented overmantel containing arms. Note: built by local builders Miskins for Samuel Ryder, the seed merchant. He became mayor of St Albans in 1905 and a deacon of Trinity. Ryder was the presenter of the Ryder Cup, the Great Britain Versus U.S. golf tournament trophy. Buried under the foundations is a Bottle containing packets of seeds, a seed catalogue and a history of the firm.

Listing NGR: TL1467106965