Dewhurst St Mary, Cheshunt

Leased to the Trust from 1985 the hall is used as the dining hall for St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School and three flats and a maisonette are private dwellings.

The Dewhurst Charity owns the freehold of this fine red brick Jacobean building. In 1985 the HBPT took out a long lease and pay a peppercorn rent. Robert Dewhurst, a Cheshunt Lawyer with his sister founded this school in 1640 for the poor boys of Cheshunt. He died in 1645 and a charitable trust was formed.

For some years the Dewhurst Charity leased the building to Hertfordshire County Council who used part as a Dining Hall and storage for the adjacent St. Mary’s Church of England Primary School.

John Onslow, Hertfordshire County Architect with Norris of Hertford Ltd undertook the conversion work for the Trust. The hall was upgraded and is leased back to Hertfordshire County Council and remains the dining hall for St. Mary’s School. The remainder of the building had lain derelict for many years. The Trust converted the south end and upper floor into a maisonette and three flats. HCC pays an annual rent and lessees pay a service charge and ground rent.