Listed building to benefit from £2,000 grant (From Watford Observer)

Listed building Little Cassiobury to benefit from £2,000 grant

12:02pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

A group aiming to restore one of Watford’s historic buildings have been given a cash boost from the council.

Watford Borough Council has awarded the The Friends of Little Cassiobury £2,000 from its Small Grants Fund.

The money is to help the group fund a historical significance survey and impact study on Little Cassiobury, in Hempstead Road.

The building, which is near West Herts College, was originally built as Dower House in the 17th century as part of the Earl of Essex’s Cassiobury Estate.

The Grade II* listed building is now owned by Hertfordshire County Council, which used it as an education office. However the building has now fallen into disuse.

The Friends group want to preserve the building and eventually turn it into a venue for community events.

The survey and study are required by Hertfordshire County Council to ensure the plans for Little Cassiobury are viable before it can grant a lease on it.

Following the grant, Councillor Keith Crout, Watford Borough Council cabinet member for Community Services, said: "The Small Grants Fund is an excellent way for local groups to apply for a grant to undertake small projects or to put the wheels in motion for larger ones.

"The Friends of Little Cassiobury plan to provide a location for history and art based presentations and workshops to take place plus an archive of the history of the house and the Cassiobury estate, and I am delighted that our grant will help them achieve their goals."

The council’s Small Grants Fund awards funds for activities such as public clean ups, improving the visual look of the town and events or activities which either celebrate the town’s history, community or multi-cultural diversity.