Henlow Vicarage

The Henlow Vicarage formerly stood at 88 High Street on the site now occupied by Old Vicarage Gardens. Despite being categorised as a Grade III building – a non-statutory building of local interest – it was demolished in the later 20th century and replaced with modern housing.

The Vicarage was built in the 18th century. It was two storeys high, with red and blue chequer brick work, a tiled roof, and a three window range of double hung sashes with glazing bars. A three stoey rear extension with hipped gables was added in the 19th century.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. Details of Henlow Vicarage were recorded by the rating valuer at this time as follows [ref: DV1/C231/36]:

Ground Floor: Hall; dining room (24 feet x 15 feet); butler’s pantry; kitchen; pantry; scullery; cellar; drawing room (14 feet x 15 feet)

First Floor: Study; bathroom & WC (good); bedroom over kitchen. Up 6 stairs to: bedroom over drawing room (15 feet x 15 feet); dressing room; bedroom over dining room (15 feet x 18 feet). Up 6 stairs to: 2 bedrooms; maid’s bedroom

Outside: Harness room; stable (for 2); coach house; barn (all used for lumber)

The valuer commented that the house was ‘about the right size’ but the garden was too big to keep up. However, he also described it as a ‘very nice garden’, well laid out with a kitchen garden all around the outside and a lawn in the middle.  Electric light had just been put in. He described the vicarage as a ‘nice old place’.