Buntingford: Houses, Church and the River Rib

Explore Buntingford through different aspects of its history: a hall house on the High Street dates back to around 1500, while the Church of St Peter was built around 1615. Also worth discovering are Layston Court Gardens and the River Rib, with its adjacent footpath. Together, these buildings, their former uses and the town’s landscape offer tangible ways to get to know Buntingford during your stay.

Historic architecture on the High Street

Nos. 59 (Salisbury House) and 59A High Street form a former two-ended hall house dating from the late 15th or early 16th century. Later alterations and extensions are also part of its history; the building is listed Grade II. Here, you can consider a particular building type, its date and its later changes together. The dating is given as a range rather than a single year of construction.

The Church of St Peter stands on the west side of Buntingford High Street. It was a Chapel of Ease and is now a church; it was built around 1615 for Vicar Dr Alexander Strange. An unusual Jacobean urban preaching house, it is laid out in the shape of a Greek cross. The chancel and semicircular apse are to the south, while the entrance is to the north, beneath the clock and bell. These directions make its distinctive floor plan easy to picture. The change from its former role as a Chapel of Ease to its present role as a church offers two different ways to explore the building’s history: its use and its architecture. The church is listed Grade I.

Gardens and riverside landscape

Layston Court Gardens lie directly off the High Street and originally belonged to the grounds of Layston Court. The house served as a grammar school and the headmaster’s residence; today, it is a private house. Its history therefore encompasses both the gardens’ original connection to the property and the house’s former uses. The gardens can be accessed through the ornamental gates between Layston Court House and the newsagents, and from Pigs Nose via a bridge over the River Rib. Before your visit, check locally whether these access points are currently usable.

The River Rib and its adjacent footpath are also part of the townscape and are considered a valuable natural and community asset. Alongside the historic buildings, this riverside setting and path offer a different focus for discovering Buntingford. The two perspectives are easy to distinguish: on one hand, buildings with specific forms and uses; on the other, the landscape and community value of the river and footpath.

Choose Buntingford as your holiday destination

When looking for a holiday rental in Buntingford, you can choose a focus that suits your travel group’s interests: would you like to explore the hall house, church and history of Layston Court, or are you more interested in the natural and community value of the River Rib and its adjacent footpath? You can also combine these themes during your stay. Your choice can therefore reflect the aspects of the townscape you want to discover, rather than a one-size-fits-all picture of the destination.

Discover more destinations: Berkhamsted, Hatfield, Saint Albans, Letchworth, Tewin, Wadesmill, Wigginton, Hailey

See the full travel guide: Hertfordshire.