Hertford Lodge

Hertford Lodge is a house, later used as municipal offices, dating to around 1860 and built in the Italianate style. It was likely extended to the left around 1880. The house is constructed of stucco with a slate roof and has stuccoed chimneystacks at each end. It is symmetrical, comprising a three-bay section to the right and a taller, set-back tower to the left. The right-hand section is three storeys and a basement, with three windows per floor. It has a wide eaves cornice with decorative features (paterae) and bands between the floors. The second floor has three round-headed arched windows and two blank arches. The first floor contains three sash windows with vertical glazing bars, and the ground floor features two projecting square bays with piers topped with foliate capitals, leading to a central porch approached by a flight of cement steps. The tower is taller, with a steeply pitched roof featuring patterned slates, cast iron cresting, and an oeil de boeuf window. The tower’s second floor has two round-headed windows, while the central panel displays the inscription "HERTFORD LODGE”. The first floor features a central window with a curved pediment and decorated apron, flanked by sash windows. The ground floor has a central window flanked by foliate pilasters.

The interior of the right-hand section has a wooden dogleg staircase with moulded pilasters and a mahogany handrail. The tower contains a wooden well staircase with elaborate turned balusters. Several fireplaces from around 1860 remain, including a tower room fireplace with a bolection-moulded design, panel and a blue-tiled surround, dating from around 1880. Original cornices and circular ceiling ventilating grilles survive. The basement retains wine bins, and the electric bell system remains from when the building was used as municipal offices.