Rosebery House (formerly The Hare and Hounds) - Buckinghamshire's Local Heritage List

Location/Address

Rosebery House, Ledburn, LU7 0QB

Type

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Description

Formerly the Hare and Hounds Public House, this was built in 1902 and remained a public house until 2012 when it closed for the last time. Planning permission to convert it to a residual dwelling was granted in 2014. The conversion was done sympathetically and the exterior remains in it's Edwardian style which has been described as Queen Anne Revival / Arts and Crafts. Ledburn is a linear hamlet with most properties visible form the road that runs through it. This house is a prominent feature as you pass through and although an out of character carriage shed has been built to the front of the property, the main façade is primary. The former pub's outbuildings have also been converted to dwellings, again sympathetically to the main property. Former Edwardian pub previously identified as an NDHA by the local council.

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Statement of Significance

Asset type

Former Edwardian Public House built while in Rosebery ownership.

Age

Built in 1902

Rarity

The only such building in the Hamlet

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Queen Anne Revival/Arts and Crafts style with central dutch gable to front. The original part of the south (front) façade remains largely unchanged but a substantial one and a half-storey side extension has been added to the west to mirror the right hand side since it has been developed into a residential property. The front porch still retains the original stone and tile step, but the doorway has been widened and fully glazed. The east façade is of one and a half storeys and has two dormer windows with roughcast render (pebble dash) in their gables – a feature often used by Arts and Crafts architects. There are also some attractive cast iron grilles to the rear part of this façade suggesting it was used as the kitchen. The original north façade is covered with additions and extensions added at various phases of it's development.

Group Value

The present building may be said to possess a moderate degree of historic interest as a structure built on the Mentmore Estate with the permission of the Earl of Rosebery. The former out-building, originally a stable, that stood within the pub carpark has been developed into a separate residential building within its own plot.

Historic Interest

Part of the Rosebery Estate This building was the centre of police activity and they set up operations from here following the Great Train robbery which happened at a nearby bridge – allegedly! Built in 1902 by Charles Sayell with permission from the Earl of Rosebery, who had aquired Mentmore Estate through marriage to Hannah Rothschild. 1915 the in was in the ownership of Micheal Ryan and a Mrs Rose Ryan was recorded as being the occupier in 1939. Sales particulars for 1944 describe the auction lot as ‘the Hare and Hounds with stabling and two paddocks’ (17 acres in total); the tenant is Mr H.W. Bullock. It is described as a free house. The accommodation comprises: - on the ground floor – Porch Entrance leading to Bar, fitted shelving and mahogany counter with glazed sash, tiled floor, Tap Room with tiled floor and iron fireplace, Back Hall and Staircase with cupboard under, Lounge (opening to Bar) with iron fireplace and casement window, Dining Room with fireplace, cupboards and dresser, Kitchen with range and sink, Larder. First floor – on the main landing are Front Lounge with corner tiled fireplace, Bathroom with bath and lavatory basin and WC, Three Bedrooms each fitted with a fireplace. On a secondary Landing are Two Bedrooms with WC and lavatory basin. Outside are a brick-built Store Room, Coal House, E.C. and Mens' Urinal. At the back of the premises is a Garden bounded on the west side by a small spinney. Bordering the roadway on the east is a detached Range of Stabling Yard and Outbuildings of brick and tile construction comprising Stable and Garage with Loft over and range of five Loose Boxes with brick floors and corner mangers. Various small ancillary structures described above have not survived, neither has the wall shown on the 1944 auction map.