Description

HERTFORD

TL3213SW PORT VALE, Bengeo
817-1/15/281 (West side)
12/04/73 The Grove including retaining wall,
piers and steps
(Formerly Listed as:
PORT VALE
The Grove)

GV II

Includes: The Grove PORT HILL Bengeo.
House. c1833. Yellow stock brick, Flemish bond, with
yellow-grey pilaster strips. Welsh slated hipped double roof
with broad panelled eaves with flat brackets, grey brick
chimneystack with oversailing bands. Square central entry
double-depth plan.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attics. First floor has 3 slightly
recessed 12-pane sash windows beneath rubbed brick flat
arches. Plat band at first-floor level. Ground floor has 2
full-length sashes with 6 large panes, with rubbed brick flat
arches. Pilaster strips at ends and framing centre bay with
twin leaf 2-panel doors with raised surrounds, in moulded
frame with semicircular traceried fanlight above. Portico
doorcase with Tuscan Doric columns and responds, entablature
with plain fascia and frieze, moulded cornice and blocking
course, raised above 3 windows on first floor. Large C20
timber conservatory covers 2 left-hand bays. French windows
with sidelights at right.
West elevation has canted oriel bay with triple 4:12:4-pane
sashes, brick spandrel raised on corbelled brick; arched
doorway left of centre, with half-glazed margin glazed door.
6-light French windows under painted metal concave canopy roof
with fretted valance.
INTERIOR: plain details characteristic of early C19, central
hall with open string stair with cut bracketed treads, stick
balusters and moulded hardwood rail. Morning room to right has
egg-and-dart plaster cornice with acanthus border to ceiling;
dining room to left has scotia moulded plaster cornice and
reeded band; kitchen at rear has flagged stone floor and
fitted dresser. First floor has glazed lantern light above
landing; large rear room has interpolated reset C18 style fire
surround with eared architrave and moulded shelf, and plaster
wall panelling.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: gateway to main garden at south-west
corner of house, with brick piers with stone pineapples, and
wrought-iron gate with segmental rails and scrolled Gothick

ogee top. House backs on to a tall buttressed brown brick
retaining wall with flights of steps, piers, urns, and fitted
slate seat, to east of house.

Listing NGR: TL3224113065

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26559065

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  For the Record
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)