Grade II listed · Watford

Former London Orphan Asylum

Former London Orphan Asylum is a Grade II listed building in Watford, first listed on 15 September 1982. It is one of 85 Grade II entries among 90 listed buildings in Watford; 26% of Watford’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
Field	Value
Name	Former London Orphan Asylum
Grade	Grade II — special interest
List entry number	1175648
Date first listed	15 September 1982
Local planning authority	Watford
Location	51.66296, -0.39045 (map)
Official record	Historic England list entry 1175648

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Watford will require for your works on Former London Orphan Asylum, 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 II buildings are of special interest and make up over 90% of listed buildings in England. Most alterations, extensions and many internal changes still need listed building consent from the council.

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 Former London Orphan Asylum

Name	Grade	Distance
Chapel of Former London Orphan Asylum	II	114 m
Benskin'S House	II	493 m
Church of St John	II	546 m
The Old Station House (formerly the booking office to Watford Station)	II	695 m
London Coal Duty Boundary Marker at Tq 1164 9657	II	711 m
Five Arches, Railway Viaduct 200 Metres North of Water Lane	II	714 m
Beechen Grove Baptist Chapel	II	723 m
The Baptist Tabernacle	II	775 m
Main Block at Watford Central Primary School	II	799 m
The Palace Theatre	II	803 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Former London Orphan Asylum listed?

Yes. Former London Orphan Asylum is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II listed building, list entry number 1175648, first listed on 15 September 1982. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.

Do I need consent for works to Former London Orphan Asylum?

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.