130–136 Piccott's End

130–136 Piccott's End is a medieval timber framed building in Piccotts End in Hertfordshire, England. Originally a hall house,[1] the structure has been divided into a row of cottages. Two of the cottages are of interest for the art work they contain.[2]

Important murals were discovered at No 32 in the 1950s and the entire building was listed Grade I.

Location

Piccotts End is a village near Hemel Hempstead. The original function of the building is not known. It has been suggested that the building was connected with Ashridge Priory, which was in existence from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century.

Murals

No 132 has fifteenth-century religious paintings on an internal wall. The wall has been described as a type of iconostasis. It has been suggested that they reflect heretical ideas, specifically Catharism.[1]

Hospital

In the 1820s the building was converted for use as a cottage hospital by the anatomist and surgeon Sir Astley Cooper.[3] In the 1830s the number of patients increased because of injuries to workers constructing the London to Birmingham railway. The hospital moved to larger premises in Hemel Hempstead,

Access

In recent years there has been limited opening of No. 132, which is privately owned. The public has been able to visit under the Heritage Open Days scheme.[4][5]

References

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