The Former Rose & Crown Public House
Low Energy Refurbishment
Sargeant Architects had the pleasure of being invited to share some of their recent projects with the Berkhamsted Citizens Association as part of their 99th AGM on 21 March 2024. We took this as an opportunity to share two, very different projects, both located in the Berkhamsted Conservation Area.
The Former Rose & Crown Public House After Conversion
The Rose & Crown public house in Gossoms End, Berkhamsted was closed in the early 2010s and was initially converted to a four bedroom house. The conversion was not done particularly well and the current owners contacted Sargeant Architects to develop a low energy conversion of the property.
Spatially this involved re-ordering the ground and first floor layouts and adding a dormer to improve the loft bedroom. To the front of the property, inappropriate upvc windows were replaced with timber casements in a similar style to the original pub. The front door was located to the side and a false front door panel created to the front. This was required due to late night revellers knocking on the door following a night out on the High Street. The property was re-rendered and the roof slates were replaced.
Sargeant Architects worked with a Renewable Energy Consultant to develop a sustainable strategy for the house: The gas supply was removed and replaced with a large air source heat pump to the rear. The pub beer cellar became the perfect area to partially convert to a plant room for the heat pump controls and hot water cylinders.
Low Energy Improvements:
• Air Source Heat Pump
• Hot Water Storage
• Upgraded Internal Wall Insulation
• Upgraded Roof Installation
• Future PV Solar Panel Installation
We were naturally interested in the history of the public house and contacted the Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society who had records of two photographs; one from the 1960s and the other, earlier which shows the Billet Lane gas holder in the distance. During the conversion the client found a notebook which was dated around the 1890s. The notebook was filled with poems and belonged to a young boy called Archie Pearce. Archie sadly died aged only 23 and the client was able to locate his grave at the nearby Rectory Lane Cemetery. Perhaps Archie was one of the first inhabitants of the public house?
