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"A beautifully restored 15th Century Grade II star listed house in the centre of Hitchin which has been awarded a blue plaque to commemorate it?s place in the History of the town.

Ground Floor

Hallway
Oak door to front, fireplace, Quarry tiled floor, meter cupboard

Cloakroom
Low level w.c., wash hand basin with mixer taps, exposed beams

Cellar
12' 3" x 10' 7" (3.73m x 3.23m)
Brick floor, wall mounted gas fired boiler servicing domestic hot water and radiator heating, power and light

Utility Room
Plumbing for automatic washing machine, leaded light window to rear, gas meter

Kitchen
16' 2" x 11' (4.93m x 3.35m)
White Butler sink with mixer taps and wooden work surface. Range of base level units, plumbing for dishwasher, fireplace and inset wood burning stove, to side beams, exposed beam and oak panels

Living Room
15' 2" x 11' 8" (4.62m x 3.56m)
Fireplace with inglenook and beams over. Leaded light window to front, exposed beams throughout, radiator, door to kitchen

First Floor

Landing
Exposed beams, radiator, leaded light window to rear

Bedroom
16' 1" x 11' 9" (4.90m x 3.58m)
Fireplace with wood burning stove, radiator, exposed beams, leaded light window to rear

Bedroom
18' 6" x 12' 6" (5.64m x 3.81m)
Open fireplace with beam over, recessed area with beams, radiator, leaded light window to front

Bedroom
17' 3" x 10' 2" (5.26m x 3.10m)
Exposed beams, radiator, leaded light window to front

Bathroom
10' 6" x 7' 10" (3.20m x 2.39m)
Panel enclosed bath with mixer taps and shower attached, pedestal wash hand basin, low level w.c., radiator, access to loft space, leaded light window to front

Shower Room
Shower cubicle, exposed beams, window to side

Outside

Garden
Courtyard area with parking for two cars. Right of way for other properties

History
The house was originally part of a larger property dating from the 15th Century. The plan appears to have been originally and L shape with the hall in the main wing facing West and a small solar wing on the North side. On the North side of the solar wing is a high archway with a room over it. In the second half of the 16th century a floor was inserted in the hall to form an upper storey, which projects on the west front to give sufficient headroom a gable was built at the North end, and the South half of the roof was raised. A chimney stack was added at the North end of the main wing. Only one tie-beam of the original open roof of the hall remains, in which mortice holes for curved angle brackets are visible. One moulded beam of the 16th century floor also remains. (The Royal Commission Inventory for Hertfordshire 1910).


William Ranson founder of the firm of pharmaceutical chemists in Bancroft. After he had qualified in pharmacy, William returned to Hitchin and set up his own business in 1846 in the premises which the firm continued to own until they moved out the town in recent years. The House stood as the gatehouse to the works behind and the site was later redeveloped as The Lavender Fields development. (Peppermint Road). Behind the building is the courtyard development of listed buildings called Ransom's Yard which also has access through the gateway to the side.

The present owner has completely refurbished the property throughout an have had the house checked by structural engineers and had a new oak soleplate installed at the base of the existing left hand flank wall under the archway. They have also removed the pebbledash at the rear of the property , had external structural beam repairs, insulation and lime render and wash. The barge boards on the middle gable have been replaced. There has been replacement of several internal structural beams to ensure the property was made structurally sound and repair defective beams There has also been installation of gas into the property and a new central heating system as well as two multi-fuel stoves and flues. There has been the installation of braces , a new bathroom, kitchen additional cloakroom and utility room and flooring. The building has been rewired. There has also been extensive lath and plastering of internal walls and ceilings, replacement internal and external doors, fireplace renovation repairs, repointing of chimney stacks and replacement oak leaded lite windows.

The property won the a Civic Award in 2012 from The Hitchin Society for its restoration. It still contains many interesting features including beams with carpenter marks, a rare intricately carved beam, with the only one similar having been found in Hever Castle and this may have come from The Croft a grand house which used to stand nearby. There are oak panels and medieval frescos on the beams.

This really is a chance to own a house of historical importance. The property is located in the heart of the town with access to the lovely restaurants and bars but within the property or in the courtyard behind you feel pleasantly detached from the bustling market town on your doorstep.