Basing House

TQ 0694 SW/TQ 09 SE 9/172 and 13/172 26.7.51

RICKMANSWORTH HIGH STREET (North side) Rickmansworth

No. 46 (Basing House)

II

Large house, now Council offices. C17 to rear, c.1740 front range. Remodelled c.1850-60, extended c.1885 and early C20. Timber frame to rear, rendered. Extended in red brick. Tiled roof, slate roofed additions. 2 parallel 5 bay ranges. 2 storeys and attics. Steps up to central entrance: 6 panelled C18 door, panelled reveals, pedimented doorcase with fluted Doric pilasters, traceried semi-circular fanlight. Flanking and first floor C19 sashes with flat arched heads, blind boxes. Plinth, plat band. Moulded brick cornice. Stone coped parapet returned at original gable ends with stacks with oversailing caps. Set back slightly at each end is a single bay late C19 extension in slightly darker brick but following the C18 model precisely. To rear: C17 range has some exposed framing with brick nogging. External end stacks with offsets. C20 windows. Left return: sashes to 2 storey early C20 block, now Council Chamber. Garden elevation: 2 ground floor French windows with margin lights, diamond leaded panes, segmental relieving arches. 4 bay ornate cast-iron verandah. 3 first floor sashes. End stacks. 2 span slate roofs. Right return steps down to lower rear block with hipped slate roof. 1 storey outshut to rear right and further additions not of special interest. Interior: jowled posts, windbraces in C17 roof. C19 staircase. Plaster ceiling in Council Chamber. From 1672-7 Basing House was William Penn's home in Rickmansworth. (RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TQ0607994497