Goodrich House, 12 Fore Street, Hatfield

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 19 Apr 2013

Grade II Listed late 18th century house. Between 1910-1930 F W Speaight a connoisseur of Georgian architecture lived in both No.3 Morton House and here, restoring both properties and probably others in the street. He established the Hatfield Gallery of Antiques here that was advertised in 1911. The garden to the rear is attributed to Speaight but a 1914 book on small gardens explains about difficulties encountered by Mr Winter Rose in laying out the garden because of a right-of-way through it. The plan included also shows a stable block to the rear. In an advertisement of 1914 the Gallery is described as 'fine specimen of English domestic architecture' with '25 spacious rooms, many fitted with rare Adam mantelpieces'. Pevsner described the street as 'a perfect example of the self-respecting street in a small Georgian town' but certainly some of the buildings were much older and probably re-fronted by Speaight. In 1933 'Flight' magazine contained an entry for new company registrations including at this address William Richter Ltd., dealers in Junkers Diesel engines and similar products.

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