Housing development opens on former pub site in Maple Cross
5:46pm Monday 21st May 2012 in News
By Adam Binnie
A popular Maple Cross pub has been transformed into a housing development after closing for the last time two years ago.
The Cross, in Denham Way, was bought by Clearview Homes in 2010 and the new development was officially opened today.
News of the site’s sale brought with it much speculation about how much, if any, of the locally listed building’s original structure would remain.
However, after in-depth consultation with residents and Three Rivers District Council, the building has been converted into houses while
retaining its historical significance.
Steve Murphy, Clearview managing director, said: “The roof was dismantled piece by piece, the original timbers meticulously catalogued and later reassembled after refurbishment of the façade and
reconstruction.”
Councillor Ann Shaw today visited Crosslands, as the new development is known, to cut a ribbon and present the first occupier with champagne.
She said: “I, like all the other local people, was thunderstruck when I heard The Cross had been sold to a developer. As a pub, it was the heart of the working community not just for drinking but
for family get-togethers, for friendship, for conviviality and for information.
In April 2010 the Watford Observer reported how The Cross was to join a growing list of pubs closed down and turned into houses in the area.
Norman Hicks, from Oakhill Road, said the pub was the hub of Maple Cross.
He added: “There were problems in Maple Cross but they were getting better, slowly but surely the community was being gelled together by this pub.”
The establishment employed three full-time bar staff, all of which had to find jobs elsewhere.
In June that year, English Heritage reported that the building was not of special architectural or historic interest and did not merit national listing. It is subject to a Three Rivers District
Council Building Preservation Notice, however, which means that although it is of local interest, it has no statutory protection.
Councillor Shaw added: “I am proud that, with cooperation and effort, another important historic landmark of our borough has been saved”.
Comments(1)
Reg Edit
says…
6:02pm Mon 21 May 12
Better as a pub, we have too many homes and not enough pubs.
Reg Edit
Comment now! Register or sign in below.
Or