Grade II* Little Cassiobury up for sale for £750,000

Purchasing Little Cassiobury House, described as “a rare and exciting opportunity” by estate agents Rolstons, would set you back £750,000.

The Grade II* listed building in Hempstead Road is thought to be a dower house from the late 17th Century, initially built for Elizabeth Percy, Countess of Essex.

Little Cassiobury interior (during the time it was vacant) (Image: Little Cassiobury CIC)

The description says: “The property was purchased by Hertfordshire County Council in 1938 and has previously been used as offices for education staff.

“The property has been uninhabited for some time and is need of restoration.

"After lying vacant for a number of years Little Cassiobury House has fallen into disrepair."

The ‘key features’ state that it is a development opportunity (subject to planning permission).

“As one of the only three grade II* listed buildings in Watford it is of great significance to the town’s heritage,” the description adds.

• One of Watford's top listed buildings 'could be sold to property developers'
• Plans for 76 homes in green belt wildlife site
• Plan submitted to demolish part of Watford Town Hall

"Any proposed development is likely to require permissions adhering to the protected nature of the building offering a sympathetic restoration of the site.”

Little Cassiobury Community Interest Company (CIC), formerly Friends of Little Cassiobury, was looking to restore the site for community use and had claimed in December that Hertfordshire County Council had U-turned on an agreement to transfer the property.

The council allegedly claimed it would be a detriment to the public purse to transfer an asset worth well into six figures, adding it also needed to consider “Watford’s urgent and growing housing requirement”.

An assessment by Historic England described the building as "in slow decay with no solution agreed".

Little Cassiobury (Image: Little Cassiobury CIC)

CIC director Alex Macgregor Mason had said: “It’s gone from a community matter to just a commercial matter.

“It’s very significant not only locally but nationally and it’s the last substantially remaining Earls of Essex estate in Watford.”

Referring to the CIC’s claims, a spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “We have discussed the possibility of the Friends of Little Cassiobury taking on the property and in 2013 provided a letter of possible intentions for them to seek funding to take on the property.

“No legal agreements have ever been put in place.”