Description

PIRTON HITCHIN ROAD
TL 1431 (East side)

7/165 No. 1 (Docwra Manor)
9.6.52 (formerly listed as
The Old Hall)

- II

Remaining wing of a larger house, now extended as a house. Built 1609
for Thomas Docwra (dated armorial plaque formerly on W front reset above
principal 1st floor fireplace) presumably as a W parlour-wing to an
older probably aisled hall-house on E said to have been burned down at
beginning of C19 (Newbery (1983)11). Wing converted to an Inn in C19.
Large E extensions in later C20 not of special interest. Limestone
rubble and flint walling with red brick corners and moulded limestone
windows. N gable roughcast. Masonry walling returns only a short way
along each end of the E wall of the wing, the rest being timber framed
with close-spaced studs and red brick infill where exposed beside the
2-storeys new extension. A large, 2-storeys crosswing planned with 2
large rooms to each floor and a lobby between them with a staircase at
its W end. An original large projecting chimney on W side heated the N
room on each floor. The S part unheated until a corresponding brick W
chimney added in C18. Entrance now by a single-storey flat roofed brick
and flint parapeted porch on W of C19 or C20 date, with arched doorway
and double doors. Upper rooms lit by tall 3-lights ovolo-moulded stone
mullioned window in upper part of each gable end. Wooden C19
ovolo-moulded 3-light sash window to ground floor of gable at each end.
Small 1st floor windows on W side retain their ovolo-moulded stone
surrounds but are lacking mullions. Lower sill of one near middle
indicates a stair window. Original large chimney has sloping offsets, a
cross worked in flints, and a moulded brick cornice. This chimney serves
a ground floor stone fireplace with 4-centred arched head and moulded
jambs. Over the fireplace a plaque with a shield of the Docwra arms and
inscription '1609/EN DIEV EST TOVT'. In C19 The Old Oak Public House.
(RCHM (1911)164-5: VCH (1912)44-5: Pevsner (1977)270: Newbery (1983)11:
RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL1457731468

Selected Sources

• Doubleday, A, The Victoria History of the County of Hertford, (1912), 44-5
• Newbury, M A , A Short History and Guide St Marys Church Pirton Hertfordshire, (1983), 11
• Pevsner, N, Cherry, B, The Buildings of England: Hertfordshire, (1977), 270

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