Dudswell House
Hertfordshire
Project history
On first appearance Dudswell House is a beautiful historic dwelling set within substantial grounds. On more detailed investigation the structure of the house reveals its origins in the sixteenth century.
This fascinating project started as an investigation into the development of a house over more than three hundred years.
In order to fully understand the history and construction of the house, and before any design work could start, it was important to date the changes and additions to the house which had been made over the years.
The original house, a timber cruck framed structure was added to in the 18th century with a characterful Georgian wing which included a beautiful Georgian style frontage with period features including, box eaves, sash windows with flat gauged arches, a 6-panel moulded door with rectangular fanlight, and doorframe with panelled pilasters.
Further substantial alterations had been carried out in 1927 which were documented by photographs taken at the time and which made significant changes to the original part of the house including internal partitions, the addition of steel frame windows with leaded glass, over cladding the external walls with clay tiles and a single extension storey to the north elevation.
The proposals make sympathetic internal changes on the ground floor which open up the space between the Georgian wing and the 1920's extension while retaining the proportion and definition of the historic rooms.
Walls which were added in 1927 on the first floor will be removed to improve the proportions and usability of the space and reinstate the proportions of the original cruck framed house. The proposals will also refurbish the bathrooms within the property and renovate the existing timber sash windows.
Photographs above show work being carried out in the 1920's with a worrying lack of health and safety!
Plan shows the elements of the house as it developed through the ages.
