Bancroft
16th Century Courtyard House
One range of a 16th century timber-framed courtyard house (some of the other ranges that would have formed the courtyard, have been lost) It’s to be found to the rear or west of Phillip’s Antiques on Bancroft in Hitchin.
A Rather Grand Staircase
The beautiful grand staircase in the now closed, Phillips of Hitchin (A circa 1700 house on Bancroft in Hitchin)
Chinese Tree
There has appeared in Bancroft Gardens, on Bancroft, (opposite the Victoria Pub) a tree that has had pieces of paper tied to it. They are covered in a chinese script. They look pretty, but I have no idea who put them there and why? Are they for the Chinese New Year? Are they for good luck?
Sainsbury’s Graffiti
Outside Sainsbury’s shop behind Bancroft in Hitchin, is a sign that has had a ‘Love Heart’ graffiti/stencil applied to it. I think it looks quite nice there and has improved a bland and dull sign. There are others dotted around town in usually dull locations and so adds a certain ‘urban’ charm to otherwise unnoticed areas.
Moss’s Corner
In 1899, The Trooper inn or public house was pulled down to make way for W.B. Moss grocery shop (Probably built and completed in 1900) Vodafone shop now inhabits the building and has a huge garish shop front and signs. What is wonderful though is the rest of the building, with its very early usage of Art Nouveau tiles; Quite thrilling to have in a small market town at that time and for to it survive now.
This area used to be known as Guilden Square, (Because of The Brotherhood building opposite on High Street) Sheep Market, Cattle Market, Church Passage and now High Street. But after W.B. Moss built its shop, it has been known as Moss’s Corner. Up until the 1970s, this was where most of the town’s bus services started and finished and was known as Moss’s Corner on the bus timetables, although Moss’s shop had long since departed.
Raised Roof
This photograph is an example of a building tha has probably had its roof raised. This particular one (On Bancroft by Sainsbury’s) seems to have had a half hipped roof from the original darker bricks that remain. The walls have been extended and patched up too. An example of just how ‘Organic’ buildings are in their constant flux and change like everything else. Buildings are rarely ‘fixed’ and forever have alterations; especially in towns.
Phillips Antiques in Bancroft
This fine two storey building now houses Phillips Antiques but was from c1700. There are two distinct sections to it on a subtle South/North divide-continuation. The northern side has the wonderful carved wooden porch made c1900; with its Corinthian columns and pilasters and carved modillions on the segmented pediment. The south side has the elliptically arched carriageway. Inside the building are panells brought from elsewhere and a copied staircase. A somewhat grandiose and aspirational building me thinks, but in keeping with the rest of society at that time.
The River Hiz at Ransom’s Rec
The River Hiz begins in Priory Park/St. Ippolyts and then wends its way through Hitchin and runs northwards bordering the eastern edge of Bancroft Park and is culverted under Grove Road that takes it up to the west boundary of Ransom’s Rec (Park) and on up to join with the River Purwell at Grove road, then it runs North West. Not exactly a raging torrent is it! More of what I would called a stream or rivulet. But nice none the less. Ransom’s Rec(reation) ground was originally Camps Milking Farm with a pond in the middle of it, before being opened in 1929 as the public park.