Russell’s House was originally constructed in the 18th Century for the Dowager Countess of Essex, adjacent to Cassiobury Park, the seat of the Earls of Essex. The Georgian house was constructed of solid red brick below a low pitched slate roof and is reportedly an important example of the development of the “villa” style of house, with an asymmetrical servants quarters wing. The building is Grade II Listed.
Russells House was on the Hertfordshire 'Buildings at Risk Register'when City & Country discovered the site. The buildings were suffering from rapid decay following a devestating fire and years of general neglect. City & Country Group aquired the building and produced a conservation plan for the sympathetic restoration of the house and gardens starting with an essential repairs scheme. Later great care and emphasis was placed in the recreation of original features lost by the devastating fire whilst creating living accommodation suitable for modern day life. Wherever the original layout has been retained unusually spacious rooms result benefiting from the original high ceilings and full height windows.
Within the grounds, City & Country created “The Mews” a new build residence in a traditional style in keeping with the architecture and Listed building status of 18th century Russell House.
Awards
- 2000, What House? Awards Bronze Award for ‘Best Development
- 2000, Evening Standard New Homes Award, Winner of the Best New Development
St Michael's Hospital, in Braintree was identified and added to the Essex County Council Buildings At Risk register between April 2006 and June 2007 before being acquired by City & Country Group. A rare example of a hexagon plan workhouse with a Y-shaped main building it is the last remaining of its kind in Essex.
The buildings that remained comprise the “Y” with its three, three-storey ranges and front entrance block flanked by the later infirmary wings. Many of the outbuildings and boundary walls arranged around the hexagonal perimeter also survived,, as well as part of the original infirmary, casual and receiving wards and board room. Other workhouse original features include its bakery and laundry, complete with weighing scales!
City & Country Group is carefully restoring the Grade II listed Victorian buildings and transforming them into a fine collection of spectacular one, two and three bedroom apartments and houses. Highly skilled craftsmen have painstakingly restored the original features in the building to produce properties which are unusual and full of interesting details. Features, such as the vaulted roofs with original beams, floor to ceiling heights, fanlights, mezzanine levels and large original windows, have been preserved making each property individual.