Long Meadow Woodene

TQ 09 SW RICKMANSWORTH NOTTINGHAM ROAD (Southwest side) Heronsgate

8/206 Long Meadow 27.7.72 and Woodene (The latter was previously listed as Wood Dane)

GV II

Pair of semi-detached houses. 1846-7 for Chartist Co-operative Land Company. Stuccoed brick. Welsh slate roof. 2 storey pedimented central block with slightly recessed wings, originally 1 storey, 1:2:1, an arrangement not found in other Chartist settlements. Sashes to Woodene, casements to Long Meadow, some glazing bars. In pediment a rectangular panel with sides extended downwards, a sign used throughout O'Connorville. Original entrance on right gable end of 1 storey wing with a pedimental headed surround, now a window. Similar panel in gable. king to left raised to 2 storeys, sash to front, a further 1 storey block to left with pedimental headed surround to gable end entrance. 2 storey wing has similar panel in gable over a round light. Axial ridge stack. Extensions to rear. Interior not inspected. Amongst the best surviving examples of the houses of O'Connorville founded by Feargus O'connor, Chartist leader, as the first settlement under his Land Plan, an important aftermath of Chartism and precursor of Garden Cities. A school and 35 cottages were built, each with 2 to 4 acres of land. (Hertfordshire Past and Present, no. 7, p,19, 1967: Pevsner 1977).

Listing NGR: TQ0260394178