Description

LETCHWORTH LANE
1.
5255 (south side)
Letchworth
Hall Hotel
TL 23 SW 1/6 27.5.54
II*
2.
Late medieval hall and kitchen range, probably of circa 1470-90 for Thomas Snagge,
now represented by crown-post roof with 4-way struts in south range. In the
early C17 the Lytton family rebuilt the hall and south range, and added a
cross wing at the north end containing a 2 storey solar block (west end),
staircase (centre) and a new kitchen range (east end). Major alterations
in the late C19 (stylistically circa 1870's) for the Alington family involved
the demolition of the north cross wing and its replacement by a range with
a central tower. The north-east wing was rebuilt by Parker in 1935-6. The
south-west wing was built circa 1911-2 by Murray Henell as a golf club. Modern
tiled roofs; hall re-roofed with modern open timber trusses. Modern, clustered
Tudor-bethan brick chimney stacks. Medieval timber-framed building replaced
by early C17 red brick structure with plinth. The south wing retains its
original coped gables with octagonal finials which have lost their original
caps. Other gables, including that of the porch, are modern copies of the
south wing gables. Hall fireplace in west wall with chimney breast projecting
externally with moulded brick cornice. A doorway was broken through the chimney
breast in the late C17; this is now blocked. The hall fireplace was reconstituted
in the early C20. Hall windows of 3 and 4 lights with transoms and mullions,
ovolo mouldings, stay bars, leaded lights and iron casements. Two and three
light mullioned windows of similar character in south range. Gabled 2 storey
entrance porch to former screens passage of hall with moulded strings and
rusticated brickwork over doorway; modern entrance and boarded door. Internal
features include ovolo moulded posts to altered hall screen. The rebuilt
north-west wing retains fine original fireplaces formerly belonging to solar
room of the C17 building: ground floor with elaborately carved oak chimney
piece decorated with caryatids; first floor with clunch chimney piece with
carved panel of the Judgement of Paris in bas relief. (RCHM, Herts p 141;
VCH, Herts 3 p 118; J Smith.)

Listing NGR: TL2173830819

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17554807

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

• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey