West Hertfordshire College, Ridge Street, Watford
TQ 10720 98275; (Ken Sabel); building study and watching brief; 21- 28 May 2002; HWHC02
A watching brief was required on the foundation and service trenches of the new extensions to the SW side of the main building. Brickearth was observed at a top height of 75.25m OD.
Three possible features were recorded at the site, which may represent tree boles and a natural lens.
A 19th century levelling dump was cut by a NW-SE aligned ditch up to 1m wide x 0.65m deep, which was traced for up to 7m.
An historic building survey of the West Hertfordshire College, originally built in 1899-1901, was carried out. Although the buildings were commissioned by different public bodies they were built by the same architect using the same materials supplied by the same manufacturers. This shows the degree to which there was continuity between the workings of the School boards and the reformed Manager's Committees. The style of the buildings are very much of its time. They display Arts & Crafts influences tempered with eclecticism. The use of quality construction techniques and expensive materials, although executed in a functional manner, was typical of the period. It reflects the wealth of late Victorian and Edwardian Britain which, combined with the sense of civic pride and the relative cheapness of skilled labour, produced the quality of architecture that is seen in many pubic buildings of the time.
|
