Grade I listed · Watford

Holy Rood Church

Holy Rood Church is a Grade I listed building in Watford, first listed on 12 September 1980. It is one of 2 Grade I entries among 90 listed buildings in Watford; 22% of Watford’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Holy Rood Church
Grade	Grade I — exceptional interest
List entry number	1101104
Date first listed	12 September 1980
Local planning authority	Watford
Location	51.65481, -0.39858 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1101104

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Watford will require for your works on Holy Rood Church, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest — only about 2.5% of listed buildings in England. Any application for listed building consent is notified to Historic England, and alterations are scrutinised closely.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Holy Rood Church

Name	Grade	Distance
Holy Rood House	II	23 m
Former Holy Rood Roman Catholic School	II	42 m
Former Convent of St Vincent	II	58 m
National Westminster Bank	II	160 m
Bedford and Essex Almshouses	II	165 m
Headstone of George Edward Doney Approx. 50 Metres Ssw of the Tower of the Church of St Mary	II	185 m
Clutterbuck Tomb 6 Metres South South East of Deacon/Kent Tomb in Church of St Mary	II	190 m
Dalton/Guest Tomb 45 Metres South of South West Corner of Church of St Mary	II	190 m
53-55 High Street	II	199 m
Church of St Mary	I	199 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Holy Rood Church listed?

Yes. Holy Rood Church is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade I listed building, list entry number 1101104, first listed on 12 September 1980. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Holy Rood Church?

Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Watford, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.

Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.