North Road, Hertford, SG14

An impressive period home with an abundance of character, set in the heart of town, enjoying delightful gardens fronting onto the river. Would benefit from some modernization.

Description

North Road House was built in 1827 and is Grade II* listed. Designed by the local architect Thomas Smith, for his own occupation - the house offers superb living spaces with high ceilings and elegant original character features throughout.

On the ground floor, the reception hallway runs through the length of the house with a classic offset staircase, access to the basement and doors opening onto the terrace and garden.

There are three principal reception rooms - a sitting room, dining room and library, all of which have fireplaces. To the rear of the house is a utility room. The kitchen / breakfast room has steps down to a garden room via a pantry and guest cloakroom.

Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, and two bathrooms, both of which would benefit from updating.

The basement level offers another entire floor of living space though has not been converted. There is good ceiling height, natural lighting and access to the garden.

North Road House sits back from the road behind a walled frontage opening onto the driveway which sweeps across the front of the house providing access to the garage and parking.

The gardens are a notable feature of this home and provide much interest with a terrace stepping down onto formal lawns with matures shrubs and topiary. The lower part of the gardens cross over a tributary of the River Beane via a private cast iron bamboo pattern bridge to a further area of garden, flanked by the river on two sides, where there is a summer house. In all, the plot extends to just over 1.3 acres.

Location

The property is located within the heart of Hertford, just a few minutes walk from the main high street where you will find a great selection of local shops and restaurants.

Hertford has a range of pubs and wine bars to suit all ages and some of these enjoy views over the River Lea.

Hertford Castle, museum and park provide historical interest

The excellent green space in Hartham Common is also close by with a Leisure centre.

The area is well known for a good choice of both state and private schooling.

For commuters, both Hertford East and Hertford North are within easy reach offering train services to London's Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Kings Cross.

The regeneration of Hertford town's riverside development is due for completion in 2023 and will provide new shops, along with riverside restaurants and bars.

The redevelopment of Hertford theatre is due for completion in 2023 helping the town centre to enjoy a fresh buzz.

Square Footage: 5,238 sq ft


Acreage: 1.31 Acres

Directions

SAT NAV POSTCODE SG14 1LR

Additional Info

Services: Mains gas, water, electricity and drainage.

Driveway - Planning permission has been granted via East Herts under reference 3/23/1449/HH for an additional access. Our client will carry out these works at his expense.

HISTORICAL NOTE: Thomas Smith (1799-1875) practised in Hertford from the 1820s, and was also County Surveyor for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Among his Hertford buildings is the County Hospital, North Road (qv). In the early C20, North Road House (formerly Paynters) was the home of Annie Swan, c1908-1935, social activist, who moved from Hampstead to Hertford with her husband, a doctor. During the first quarter of the century she was a prolific and popular author. In her autobiography (My Life, London, 1924, Ivor Nicholson) she left a vivid account of the bomb damage to the house in a Zeppelin raid on 13 October 1915, in which the east wing was demolished, the front door was blown out, and the dining room was stripped to lath and plaster (vide Chapter 14 and 15). (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Hertfordshire: Harmondsworth: 1977-: 193; Felstead A: Directory of British Architects 1834-1900: London: 1993-; Swan, Annie: My Life: London: 1924-; Colvin H: A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840: London: 1978-)