Building record 1480700000 - The Cedars, 116 High Street

Summary

Early twentieth century house, built in 1905 for the Rothschild Estate as a maternity home and used to house Jewish refugees during World War II.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Conservation Area: Waddesdon Conservation Area (DBC8075)

Map

Type and Period (3)

  • HOUSE (Built 1905, 20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)
  • ESTATE BUILDING (20th Century - 1900 AD to 1999 AD)
  • CHILDRENS HOME (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD?)

Description

Substantial detached building located within large grounds on the north-eastern side of High Street.
Built in 1905 at the behest of Alice de Rothschild. Set back from the road, the building is partially obscured by trees. It is a large and flamboyant building of several ranges united by gable roof laid in red tiles arranged in diamond patterns and articulated with tall banded brick and stone chimneys and decorative ridgetiles. The building is unusual within Waddesdon being constructed of rubblestone. The first floor storey of the main gable range is decorated with applied timber and contains a two storey bay. The building has been identified as being of local note because it forms part of a group of substantial Rothschild buildings constructed for the community (The Roses, The Village Hall, The Reading Rooms). In addition the building is visually flamboyant and retains the majority of its original external features including its original windows and doors. Architect – William Taylor. A Local Building of Note within the Conservation Area (B1).
From March 1939 The Cedars was used to house a group of 31 Jewish refugee children from a residential home for boys in Frankfurt and the family of one of their teachers (Hugo Steinhardt) who had fled Germany after the home had been attacked on Kristallnacht. The children attended the village school and Aylesbury Grammar School (B2-3).

Sources (3)

  • <1>SBC23758 Bibliographic reference: Aylesbury Vale District Council. 2014. Waddesdon Conservation Area Review.
  • <2>SBC24509 Digital archive: Helga Brown. 2014. The Cedar Boys Waddesdon Manor, 1944.
  • <3>SBC24510 Digital archive: Jeremy Godden. 2014. The Steinhardt Family and the Cedar Boys.

Location

Grid reference SP 73965 16999 (point)
Civil Parish WADDESDON, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jun 23 2021 7:30PM

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