Description

TL 01 SE
4/94
22.10.52

GREAT GADDESDEN
GADDESDEN ROW
(South side)
The Golden Parsonage and garden walls attached on North-East (Formerly listed as Golden Parsonage)

GV
II*

Country house and attached garden walls. 1705 date (formerly on windvane
over entrance: VCH (1908)205) for Thomas Halsey formerly adjoining older
house to SE pulled down c.1774, altered c.1760 and in early C19, NW wing
dated 1874 on terra cotta panel with crest. Garden walls C18 or earlier.
Extensive interior alterations by Waring and Gillows c.1935 (before and
after photos in NMR). Very high quality red brickwork in header bond
with gauged and moulded dressings to main house. Low pitched roofs
concealed by parapets, slate roof to 1874 block, tiled roofs to N
extensions. A large 2-storeys square block with giant order grey brick
pilasters of Roman Doric clasping each corner with corner entablature,
cornice continuous around block surmounted by a moulded parapet. Similar
pilaster in middle of 6 windows E elevation. More elaborate 5-windows S
elevation has triglyphs in parapet over each window, stepped keystones,
and brick aprons to 1st floor windows. Plainer 4 windows W front has
projecting central brick porch remodelled c.1935 and no keystones to
windows. Recessed tall segmental arched sash windows with 9/9 or 6/6
panes, with corbelled sills on E front and cut down to ground on S
front. Triple sash window replaces 2 ground floor windows on E front.
2-storeys NW wing with 2 windows to each floor copying those of house,
and half octagonal ground floor bay in middle with slate roof. Steep
roofed N extension has arcaded loggia to front and tower with blunt
pyrammidal roof. Interior and staircase in early C18 style largely
created in c.1935, but incorporates some adapted bolection moulded
panelling, some panelled doors of c.1600 with cockspur hinges, and a
fireplace with green Wedgewood plaques inset moved here from a
demolished pavillion of Gaddesden Place (q.v.) by James Wyatt. White
marble fire surround in Dining Room with Ionic pilasters, full
entablature and centre block. Roof structure of great interest showing
wide-span C18 timber engineering using 12" square oak or chestnut
timbers, king-posts, queen-posts, cross-bracing, and painted inscription
presumably by carpenter, 'Jo Grove Sept 19: 1766', on one truss. There
is an inscription beside the entrance porch outside 'SL 1766'. Extensive
service buildings linked to N. E-facing arm of tall garden walls has
near S end blocked windows on 2 storey-levels with flat gauged arches
and blocked doorways as if part of the demolished older house. The N
part of this wall has very tall, narrow, close-set, blocked windows as
if for an orangery, and the walling between has later, blocked, wider
windows of C19 character, some intersecting the older blocked windows.
(VCH (1908)204-5: Pevsner (1977)151-2: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL0505212525

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Golden Parsonage at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q14949356

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

• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)