Description

HERTFORD

TL3212NE FORE STREET
817-1/17/59 (North side)
No.1

GV II

Publishing house and printing works, now offices. Early/mid
C19, with C20 alterations. Stuccoed and colourwashed brick
front, brown stock brick,laid to Flemish bond, to flanks and
rear, below Welsh slated mansard roof. Parapet front
(balustrade removed mid C20), parapeted ends and tall light
brown brick stack with 4 clustered shafts right of centre.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and attics above basement, 5 bay facade.
First floor has 4 long sash windows with divided glazing,
central French windows with divided glazing and 2-light
fanlight in moulded architrave surround, (full width first
floor balcony removed mid C20). Projecting bands at first
floor and second floor sill levels, rusticated quoins left and
right and flanking centre bay which breaks slightly forward.
Second floor with 4 sashes, and central French windows with
moulded architrave surround, balcony carried on modelled
brackets and modillions (low balustrade removed mid C20 and
moulded cornice cut back to band above second-floor windows).
Ground floor rusticated, with 5 semicircular headed openings
with moulded impost band; panelled double leaf C20 doors with
semicircular fanlights left and right, 3 centre recessed
closed plate-glazed windows, with semicircular upper lights,
having segmentally arched spandrel panels below and recessed
grille vents to basement. To roof 5 box dormers with 9-pane
sashes above parapet front.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
HISTORICAL NOTE: from 1854 this building was the headquarters
of Stephen Austin, a printer and publisher who had begun
operations in Hertford in 1768, and in conjunction with work
for the East India College at Haileybury gained a reputation
for foreign language printing. In 1772 the firm commenced
publication of 'The Hertfordshire Mercury', and sold the
interest in the late 1980s: a bronze statue of Mercury stands
on the second floor balcony. The main printing operation moved
to Ware in 1954.
(Green L: Hertford's Past in pictures: Ware: 1993-: 100-101;
Page FM: History of Hertford: Hertford: 1993-:
128,146,178,180-1).

Listing NGR: TL3262012563

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26559199

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.

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  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
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