Discover Hertford Online Forum

Reply ID 77661

A friend of mine, a retired school teach from Holland, once told me that they had adopted that style of house design for the following reasons. The lack of land to build on in Holland meant that the cost of land and taxes are high. The design was chosen so that a lot of houses could be build in a small section of land. Over 50% of there land is reclaimed land that used to be under water. By building in this design it meant that the land owners could build more houses and therefore maximise the lands earning potential. The "dutch house's" in The Wash and St Andrew Street are probably built on small pieces of land that the owners at the time decided to adopt this style to maximise the available space.

Reply ID 77663

I don't know of many more of this style of house in Hertford. This link provides an overview of the distinctive style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambrel Interestingly it means that the buildings are actually side on to the street. Turners plumbing business is exactly like this with the end of the property side on to St Andrew Street. However I believe it used to front on to a smaller road (Neal Court?). The old Over the Moon property may well have once been the end property in the row, fronting onto what is now Maidenhead Street. Photographs in 'The Past in Pictures' section do not show this but do show a different building where Corner House now stands. I find the architectire in Hertford fascinating. For those with the opportunity it's worth getting a view across the town centre at rooftop level. You can do this from the two car parks but the best view I found was from the upper stairs in Shire Hall on one of their open days.

Reply ID 77664

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ewoowar
I don't know of many more of this style of house in Hertford. This link provides an overview of the distinctive style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambrel Interestingly it means that the buildings are actually side on to the street. Turners plumbing business is exactly like this with the end of the property side on to St Andrew Street. However I believe it used to front on to a smaller road (Neal Court?). The old Over the Moon property may well have once been the end property in the row, fronting onto what is now Maidenhead Street. Photographs in 'The Past in Pictures' section do not show this but do show a different building where Corner House now stands. I find the architectire in Hertford fascinating. For those with the opportunity it's worth getting a view across the town centre at rooftop level. You can do this from the two car parks but the best view I found was from the upper stairs in Shire Hall on one of their open days.

---

Reply ID 77665

quote:

---

Originally posted by James007

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ewoowar
I don't know of many more of this style of house in Hertford. This link provides an overview of the distinctive style: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambrel Interestingly it means that the buildings are actually side on to the street. Turners plumbing business is exactly like this with the end of the property side on to St Andrew Street. However I believe it used to front on to a smaller road (Neal Court?). The old Over the Moon property may well have once been the end property in the row, fronting onto what is now Maidenhead Street. Photographs in 'The Past in Pictures' section do not show this but do show a different building where Corner House now stands. I find the architectire in Hertford fascinating. For those with the opportunity it's worth getting a view across the town centre at rooftop level. You can do this from the two car parks but the best view I found was from the upper stairs in Shire Hall on one of their open days.

---

OR this ..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambrel

---

Reply ID 77666

quote:

---

Originally posted by Marilyn
Following on from the Over the Moon thread that was going rather off topic I have started this for your comments and photos of the older buildings in Hertford. There is the Egyptian style in Fore Street which I belive is very unusual, not many of them around. The Dutch Style in The Wash and St Andrew Street. Have you looked at the detail on the post office or the pinting on the outside of what was I think the Headmasters house of the Bluecoat School. The Dormer Windows of many of the old buildings. Also stand back and look at Chimneys.....it gives a lot of information as to the original structure and age of some of the buildings. Everyone knows the obvious ones like The Vergers House, St Leonards Church etc but there is so much more if you know where and how to look and that is why I am one of Peter Ruffles "anoracks" who get so cross when people start knocking the buildings around without checking what they can and can't do and may be destroying first! If you get a chance to do one of the town tours that start from the Museum or the Tourist information please do as the people who take you round will show you thinks you have never noticed.

---

Reply ID 77667

How dare you bring your funny American ways on to this site Marilyn.[:0] Shame on you.[:D]

Reply ID 77669

quote:

---

Originally posted by buzz A good idea for a topic as there is certainly a wide variety of building styles in Hertford. But....what is wrong with describing it as Town CENTRE Buildings? The trend to Americanise the English language is, imo, lamentable.

---

Reply ID 77670

r u sure Leo?[:)]

Reply ID 77671

quote:

---

Originally posted by Eyeone
How dare you bring your funny American ways on to this site Marilyn.[:0] Shame on you.[:D]

---