Northaw Place

**Northaw Place** is a Grade II\* listed former school & children's home in Northaw and Cuffley, Hertfordshire, England. Northaw Place was built circa 1690 by Sir George Hutchins, King's Serjeant and one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal (1690 – 1693). Cussans describes the Northaw estate as having once formed part of the manorial estate but it became detached from it in circa 1690 when Sir William Leman, second Baronet, and Lord of the Manor of Northaw, gave it to his daughter Sarah, on her marriage to Sir George Hutchins. It remained in private hands until the late 19th century, when it was converted into a school. It reverted to private ownership again in 1927, only to be purchased by Middlesex County Council after World War 2 and converted into a Children's Home. With the 1974 re-organisation of UK local Government it passed to the London Borough of Haringay who used it as a Children's Assessment Centre until late 1979. In 1980 a planning application was made to convert Northaw Place (and its adjoining extensions to the west) to 10 dwellings (Ref: S6/0369/80). Permission was granted but the scheme was not implemented due to outstanding conditions of consent. A subsequent application to convert Northaw Place to offices was refused in 1982 (S6/0120/82). Another application was submitted in 1985 to convert Northaw Place to 6 dwellings (S6/0368/LB), permission was granted. In 1986 Northaw Place was bought by Hitchins (Hatfield) Ltd, a new planning application was submitted, this contained minor amendments from the previous application. As part of the conversion work the main house was divided from the stables / coach house to the west by the demolition of a link building. It had since been converted to residential accommodation.

## The Paintings

The staircase dates to c1700 and the entrance hall contains a number of wall and ceiling paintings, tempera on plaster, in the style of Verrio, depicting scenes from classical mythology. Other art historians have attributed the paintings to James Thornhill and Maria Verelst. Croft-Murray has dated the paintings to 1728 – 32. The (west) right hand wall has a scene depicting the ‘Judgement of Paris’ in its upper part; below this is a frieze of sculpted figures and a trompe l’oeil painting of a statue of Venus and Cupid, Venus having accepted the golden apple from Paris. Adjacent to this is a grisaille panel containing a sculpted figure. The (south) window wall has cherubs pulling aside curtains either side of the window. Below the window is the Coat of Arms of Captain Mounsey who purchased Northaw Place in 1867. He had the paintings ‘restored’ in 1869 by Manfred Griffin Holyoake, an established paintings restorer; it is likely the Mounsey Coat of Arms was added at this time. The left (east) wall depicts a holy figure, a king and a satyr (scene not identified). There are further figures in the background. The north wall has a cornucopia each side and painted mouldings. There are roundels containing figures above the east and west doors on the landing. The ceiling contains a scene depicting the muses of music and painting, topped by a putti crowning a figure bearing a golden lyre. During its years as a Children's Home and Assessment Centre, these paintings were covered over with ventilated boards for their protection.

## Connection to the film

Northaw Place was used to represent Headstone Manor.