Historians guided around Harpenden development site for research

Local historians were given a guided tour around a development site, formerly a Victorian family home, to learn more about Harpenden’s heritage.

The Harpenden Local History Society at Welcombe House - Credit: Archant

The Harpenden Local History Society are researching the Grade II listed building off Southdown Road, which is currently being converted into houses by Fairview New Homes.

It has been a point of interest for the group for about 50 years, but it was last used in 2014 as the former Harpenden House Hotel. Fairview are naming the development Welcombe House after a Victorian family who lived there.

Rosemary Ross, of the Harpenden Local History Society, said: “It was very important to us to try to understand how the Welcombe building developed from a timber-framed house and was adapted and extended throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

“Being able to see the inside of the building with the walls stripped back ahead of the conversion gave us an intriguing insight.”

Welcombe House will have 19 new apartments, 13 new houses, and five apartments in the building.