Grade II* Little Cassiobury 'sold subject to contract'

Little Cassiobury House in Hempstead Road, owned by Hertfordshire County Council, was put up for sale with a £750,000 guide price earlier this year.

It has since been confirmed that the building has been sold subject to contract, which means that an offer has been accepted but is not yet legally binding.

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The building is thought to be a dower house from the late 17th century, initially built for Elizabeth Percy, Countess of Essex.

More recently it has been uninhabited for some time and was described as “in slow decay”, by a Historic England assessment.

A listing, describing the building as a “development opportunity”, said: “As one of the only three grade II* listed buildings in Watford it is of great significance to the town’s heritage.

Little Cassiobury House (Image: Little Cassiobury CIC)

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

When the building was put up for sale, Watford mayor Peter Taylor highlighted that development at the site will be limited by “significant protections” in place to prevent “inappropriate development of the building”.

Grade II* listing gives a building legal protection from demolition and alterations which could destroy its "historic fabric" or affect its character and appearance.

Little Cassiobury House was sold to the county council in 1938 and was used as offices for education staff before becoming vacant.

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

In 2017, the property was leased to Watford Borough Council as part of an effort to inspect and restore it, with an option to purchase the building, but that expired in April 2020.

Little Cassiobury Community Interest Company (CIC), formerly Friends of Little Cassiobury, was looking to restore the site for community use.

It claimed in December, last year, that Hertfordshire County Council had U-turned on an agreement to transfer the property to it, but the council maintains that no legal agreements had ever been put in place.

The group described the building as “very significant not only locally but nationally” and looks set to remain involved in the restoration and planning process after a potential sale.