Gatehouse to Hertford Castle (Hertford Castle Demolished), Hertford, Hertfordshire

Description

HERTFORD

TL3212SW HERTFORD CASTLE
817-1/19/309 Gatehouse to Hertford Castle
10/02/50 (Hertford Castle demolished)

GV I

Castle gatehouse, subsequently residence, Local Authority
offices since 1912. c1460-65, altered and extended late C18,
C19 and C20, interior restored 1967-71, architects Donald
Insall and Partners. Original floors framed by Thomas Norman,
carpenter, 1464; original mason William Hull.
MATERIALS: red brick (locally manufactured by Cornelius Gyles
at 21 pence a thousand for initial build), English bond, with
Flemish and English bonds used in later extensions and
alterations. Stone dressings of Mertsham (Surrey) stone and
Kentish stone; Ashwell clunch used for interior chimneypieces.
Welsh slated roofs with lead roll ridges, hips, and lead
valley gutters and flats recessed behind castellated brick
parapets with Portland stone copings. Moulded stone string
course; corbelled arcaded Lombardic frieze below parapet
around original gatehouse block.
PLAN: gatehouse has massive walls with 1/2 octagonal turrets
each side of central gateway, infilled 1789-92. 2 upper floors
each have 1 major and 1 minor chamber, with studded partition
walls and beamed roofs still in situ. 2 bay south wing and
single bay north wing added in 1937. Octagonal stair turret
with castellated roof rises above main parapet level in
south-east corner.
EXTERIOR: 2 and 3 storeys and basement. West elevation has
gatehouse left of centre, brickwork although restored retains
traces of lattice-pattern diaperwork in black overburnt
headers. Late C18 windows on all floors of Gothick style,
stone mullioned with moulded lancet heads, stone surrounds and
dripmoulds, with divided glazing. These are all 2-light, with
exception of 3-light window centrally set on second floor,
many installed in original embrasures which were widened as
necessary. Recessed on first floor above infilled arch is a
weathered carved stone panel with the Royal Arms of Edward IV;
this was carved by the London mason Reginald Langley, and
coloured by John Payntour of Ware. On the ground floor,
against the original archway, the chamfered stone jambs of
which can be seen at either side, is a panelled door recessed
within stone porch. This has a panelled wood lining, moulded
stone Tudor arch, panelled pilasters and raised spandrel
panels with castellated parapet above string course. At left
(north) of gatehouse is 1937 wing, with Flemish bond

brickwork, and one 3-light Gothick window with lancet heads
and dripmould on first and ground floors.
At right (south) of gatehouse is the residential wing,
constructed 1789-92 by the Marquess of Downshire,
brother-in-law of the Marquess of Salisbury, which replaced an
earlier timber-framed, gabled, plastered building of c1600.
Red brick, English bond, 3 storeys, lower than gatehouse, in
simplified version of its general style; 2 bays. Second floor
has single 2-light and single 3-light window, each with square
4-pane sashes, moulded stone mullions and surrounds. First and
ground floor each with single 2-light and single 3-light
window with narrow sashes recessed in moulded stone mullioned
surrounds, with lancet heads and dripmoulds above. 6-panes to
each sash on first floor, 8-panes on ground floor.
South elevation has Lombardic frieze below parapet, and traces
of diaper patterns and external render. Ground floor has
projecting 3-bay mid C19 conservatory with multi-pane windows
and glazed doors, moulded major mullions and transoms, and
fascia with cornice gutter, with 3 glazed gables above.
East elevation has original gatehouse right of centre, with
brickwork and general features as described on west elevation.
Early C19 doorway on ground floor infills original gateway
arch. Twin leaf half-glazed doors with traceried fanlight in
stone surround with roll moulded Tudor style arch, panelled
outer surround with lancet sidelights and raised moulded
quatrefoil above centre of arch, all recessed within chamfered
jambs and intrados of original gateway. Above is early C19
hollow spandrel panel with raised dripmould. Offset plinth at
ground-floor level.
To right (north) is 1937 wing; to left (south), residential
wing constructed 1789-92. 2 projecting bays, canted on left,
rectangular on right, each with 3-light windows on each floor,
all with stone moulded mullions, surrounds and dripmoulds,
4-pane sashes on second floor, lancet headed 6-pane sashes on
first floor, and 8-pane sashes on ground floor. Below plinth
level are 3-light basement windows, with 4-pane sashes.
INTERIOR: the interior of the gatehouse was altered and
embellished in Gothick style by the Marquess of Downshire in
1789-92. A new spiral stair was installed in the south-east
turret, which was heightened to give access to the roof.
Original fabric was covered over, and window embrasures were
enlarged, and the original fabric often destroyed. However, on
the upper 2 floors a great deal of medieval structure
remained, and much was uncovered and restored in 1967-71.
Entrance hall runs through the building within the line of the
original gateway and has a 5-bay groined plaster vault above a
scotia and bead cornice; at left is stair hall which has a
similar treatment. Lower flight of stairs projects, Gothick

style clustered shaft newel post, arcaded traceried iron
balustrades with matching dado, open string with bracketed
hardwood treads, moulded hardwood handrail with trefoil ends,
ramped to quarter landing which leads into turret and spiral
stair, this is of cantilevered construction with bracketed
treads, arcaded iron balustrades, continuous moulded handrail,
arcaded iron traceried dado, rising to second floor, above
which is circular ceiling with dentil cornice and Adam style
fan pattern centrepiece. Beyond ground-floor stair hall a
barred vaulted corridor leads into the south wing of 1789-92.
This has a corridor with plaster groined sexpartite vaulting,
moulded dado rail, panelled window surrounds, and at end twin
leaf glazed doors with lancet fanlights above, doors to 2 main
rooms 6-panel, Gothick style with lancet headed panels.
Clerk's room has an elaborate late C19 fireplace with stone
inner grate with 4-centred arch, shouldered wood architrave,
foliated fascia and keyblock carved with harvest scene with
putti. Conservatory has a timber and glass ridge and furrow
roof; cast-iron staging with pierced quatrefoils, star pattern
ceramic and encaustic tile floor.
First floor has Mayor's Robing Room in gatehouse, which
occupies two thirds of the area, and with its moulded timbers
was clearly a room of high status, with the room beyond,
possibly with service function having plainer, and cruder
carpentry. The partition is of heavy close studding with
brick-nogged infill of a variety of patterns, central post
with cavetto chamfer supporting central longitudinal binder
with double cavetto, into which are morticed heavy joists with
cavetto, stop and tongue; wall plate also moulded. The post
has a cut back jowl with mortices for a no longer extant
brace. During restoration in 1971 the upper faces of the beams
were exposed and the carpenters' marks were recorded. The
Royal accounts for 1463-64 indicate that Thomas Norman,
carpenter, was framing the floors, and the class of work in
the 2 major rooms appear to indicate involvement of a skilled
craftsman. The carpentry in the small service room is inferior
with a chamfered beam and plain rectangular joists; on opening
up the floor above in 1971, the carpenters' marks were
observed to be cruder. The stonework was also exposed in 1971
revealing the cutting back of jambs and heads. A fragment of a
damaged moulded cusped quatrefoil light was discovered in a
splayed recess in the NW angle turret, and in the SW turret a
doorway with a 4-centred chamfered clunch arch, and 3-plank
oak door with strap hinges, in the return flank of the
chimneybreast and blocked behind by later masonry, also on the
east wall a lancet embrasure with an original splayed clunch
jamb with evidence of painting and a raised 5 pointed star on
a recessed circular ground. South wing access through arched

Gothick opening lined with a pilaster with recessed lancet
panels. Second floor has Mayor's Parlour in principal chamber,
again divided from north room by a heavy studded and brick
nogged partition. Original doorway in NW corner with chamfered
reveal, cavetto moulded jamb, and restored Tudor arched heads,
left jamb and door. Beamed ceiling with 2 original
cantilevered tie beams with new sections scarfed in, with
moulded braces, and indications of truncated posts below;
moulded ridge and chamfered purlins, with plain plaster
ceiling panels between, 3 bays of roof in Robing Room, with 2
bays beyond partition, approx 8m span. Original clunch
stonework exposed in window embrasures, two 2-light windows on
east, central 3-light window on west and cutback, originally
moulded, jamb visible in turrets.
Roof: Late C18 king post trussed roofs above gatehouse and
over south wing.
Basement: Flint rubble, possibly from an earlier structure
used as foundations. Plastered barrel vaults, and C18 vaulted
structures beyond curtilage of south wing and beneath north
wing. Basement of gatehouse converted to modern strong rooms
and structure concealed. 2 basement rooms below south wing
former kitchen and servants' hall.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Hertford Castle reputedly originated as a
Saxon fort built by order of King Alfred against the Danes
encamped at Ware. The castle was built (or reconstructed) by
William I shortly after 1066 as a motte and bailey - the motte
mount, 22 ft high, remains in the north angle of the castle
precinct overlooking the river. In 1304 the castle and honour
of Hertford were granted by Edward I to his wife, Queen
Margaret, and the castle became a royal palace, and a prison
where David II and James I of Scotland and King John of France
were held. In 1360 the castle was granted to John of Gaunt,
Duke of Lancaster, and remained property of the Duchy until
1627.
From 1805-18, the castle was used by the East India Company
College, from 1822-32 the Dispensary which preceded the
General Infirmary (County Hospital) was held there, and it was
also used as a judges' lodging. In 1911 Hertford Corporation
approached Lord Salisbury to purchase the castle, and a lease
of 75 years at a peppercorn rent of 2s 6d per annum was
granted. The grounds were laid out as public gardens, and the
entrance gates leading from The Wash were donated by Osmond
Henry McMullen in 1912. Hertford Castle was used as the
Borough Council offices until 1974, and since that date has
been occupied by the Hertford Town Council and Property
Division of the successor East Hertfordshire District Council.
Hertford Castle Gate House, curtain walls, motte and bailey
and precinct (qqv) are a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

(Turnor L: History of Hertford: Hertford: 1830-: 16-52,308-12;
Victoria History of the Counties of England: Hertfordshire:
London: 1902-1912: 501-6; Royal Commission on Historical
Monuments (England): An Inventory of the Historical Monuments
of Hertfordshire: London: 1910-: 113; East Herts
Archaeological Society Newsletter: Hertford Castle Gatehouse:
Hertford: 1949-1967; East Herts Archaeological Society
Newsletter: Hertford: 1949-1971; The King's Works: London:
1963-: 678-71; Hertfordshire Countryside: Davies HG: 'From
Royal Palace to Council Offices': Letchworth: 1946-1971:
34-38; Pevsner N: Buildings of England: Hertfordshire:
Harmondsworth: 1977-: 187; Smith JT: Hertfordshire Houses:
Selective Inventory: London: 1993-: 82; Page FM: History of
Hertford: Hertford: 1993-: 21-70, 168-71).

Listing NGR: TL3245712465

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