Description

TL 51 NW HATFIELD BROAD OAK HATFIELD FOREST

3/88 Shell House

- II*

Garden house/folly. c.1757 and built by the Houblon family. Constructed of
knapped and boulder flints, shells, glass fragments and brickwork with a low
pitched pantile pediment gabled roof. The original block formed a small
rectangular pavilion with pedimented gables at front and rear. The latter was
extended to the west in red brick in the C19. The west front has a central
semi-circular arched entrance and 2 small flat headed windows, with rustication
and keystones forming a Serliana motif. The windows have small panes as has the
original door which also has fan pattern glazing in its head and 2 semi-circular
stone steps. The keystone over this door has an eagle-like bird with out-
stretched wings in white shells. The pediment has a semi-circular dummy window
with radiating glazing bars in contrasting material. The corners have
rusticated quoins of flint boulders. Each flank has a star pattern of shells,
radiating from a central blue glass sphere. Internally, there is mid C18 wall
panelling and a coved plaster ceiling. This has a border and other motifs of
shells and glass fragments, forming a star and corner quadrants with central
rosettes. Either side are later single storey blocks of red bricks with pantile
roofs, each having 3 tall chimney stacks on the rear and of only limited
interest. Grade II* for rarity.

Listing NGR: TL5402519810

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17533968

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

• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas