The Wrong Side of Town

Stag House

Commonly regarded as a soulless and overbearing office building occupying a prominent location overlooking the Bluecoats roundabout, Stag House was built in the 1990s with little reference to the character of the town. Often described by agents as a “landmark building occupying a commanding position”, the development is derided by some for its inappropriate design and scale that poorly reflects the town in what could be regarded as a gateway location.

The Rotunda

Built in 1991 on the site of the former Plough Public House, The Rotunda is another unimpressive office building, despite the cylindrical design of the main entrance. The owner has recently gained planning permission to convert the building to residential use whilst adding a further two storeys.

Yeomans Court

The area around the Bluecoats Roundabout and Mill Road junction seems to have attracted more than its fair share of architectural mediocrity, none moreso than Yeomans Court. This dull unimaginative building replaced the splendor of the Art Deco County Cinema that was demolished in 1986, despite a campaign to save the building.

Gascoyne Way Multi-storey car park

The Gascoyne Way multistorey car park was built in the mid 1960s in response to concerns from shopkeepers that the new relief road would lead to a significant drop in custom for the town’s retailers. Sadly, the car park did little to address their concerns as trade dropped by 60% following the opening of the road.

Sovereign House

Another development that accompanied the arrival of the relief road was Sovereign House, an unloved sixties office block that failed to age well and ended its days in poor condition. The building also famously featured an underground nuclear bunker. It was demolished in 2016 and replaced with retirement homes.

The Ebe

Ebenezer Court in North Road is named after the Ebenezer Strict Baptist church that stood nearby, before being swept away by the relief road. Initially marketed as The Ebe, the boxy architecture attracted much criticism at the time for lacking imagination or architectural merit.

BEAM

A thoroughly modern marmite building that opened in 2024, BEAM is a cinema, theatre and community space occupying a site that has been used for entertainment for over a century. The scale and design of the building has come in for much criticism, particularly the large expanses of uninterrupted brickwork.

However, the building has been recognised by Hertford Civic Society with an award for its positive visual impact on the town.

Lea Wharf

Another marmite development is Lea Wharf, built at the same time as BEAM and subject to similar criticism. The design pays homage to Butler's Wharf on London's south bank but some have compared it to a prison. The large five storey blocks of residential properties above commercial premises is viewed as overdevelopment by some, whilst the retail offering at ground level has disappointed many. Commercial floorspace is similar to the previous Bircherley Green shopping centre, but significant space has been given over to a doctors' surgery, gym (yet to open) and hospitality. This has reduced the number of 'shops' to just two.

Gascoyne Way

The most destructive planning decision ever to befall the town. The construction of the Herford Relief Road required the compulsory purchase of over 100 plots of land and the demolition of a large number of buildings. The dual carriageway cut the town in two, requiring pedestrian underpasses to walk from one side to the other. Streets were bisected as the dual carriageway ploughed its way through the centre of the town. Retailers reported a 60% loss of trade after the new road opened. Hertford was changed forever. Over the ollowing decades the road has exceeded its designed capacity and itself become a major cause of congestion in the town. All attempts to find a solution have come to nought and the local highways authority has all but given up on Hertford.