Restoration of Aldenham House at Haberdashers’ Boys School on site

The refurbishment and remodelling of the Grade II* listed, Aldenham House at Haberdashers' Boys' School in Elstree, Hertfordshire is currently on site.

Aldenham House is a fantastic, listed building dating back to 1672. Over the years it has been a major country house, wartime BBC radio centre, a hotel and a film set. Aldenham House is set in once famous Victorian gardens which are on the Historic England Parks and Garden Register.

It currently houses the reception and core administrative functions, providing an elegant historic front to the School’s day-to-day business, however the House is in increasingly poor condition due to water ingress and fabric deterioration.

A number of proposals of different levels of complexity have been developed for the School, however the current scope of works focusses on repairing and upgrading the existing fabric of Aldenham House to preserve and extend its life. This will include repairing roofs, brickwork, stonework, leadwork and windows, adding insulation and adapting areas of the roofscape to assist with ongoing maintenance.

Scaffolding in place to provide temporary protection during repairs (photo: Habs Elstree Schools Foundation)

In addition, the complete refurbishment of the mezzanine floor of the Stable Block will reinstate staff flats for junior teachers, including new fire escape provision to improve safety.