Crabtree Euromodule plates were used in each apartment of Royal Connaught Park to neatly provide power, TV, satellite, dab radio and data outlets.
When it comes to buying into a great British institution, it doesn’t get much better than the Hertfordshire school that - thanks to its proximity to Elstree film and TV studios - has been immortalised dozens of times on the silver screen. It has stood in for St Trinian's, Hogwarts School for Wizards in the Harry Potter films, and has appeared in Little Britain, Nuns On The Run and Judge John Deed. Now, the magnificent Grade II-listed Victorian building in Bushey, which was home to the Royal Masonic School for Boys until 1977 before becoming an international university, is seeing a new lease of life.
Royal Connaught Park, formerly the Royal Masonic School for Boys, has been converted into luxury apartments by Comer Homes. The location, described as a remarkable architectural and landscaping achievement, boasts a luxurious mix of conversions and new apartment homes. Approached via impressive entrance gates, a picturesque clock tower sits within JFK House, the signature building named in tribute to President John F Kennedy who resided nearby during the Second World War. No two of the latest dwellings are totally alike; each has been individually designed using only premium materials selected to complement the quality of the original buildings with great attention paid to craftsmanship. It is for this reason that Crabtree Platinum accessories were chosen to complement the quality, style and finish of the décor.
As the kitchens in the apartments were predominantly stainless steel, the same stainless steel and screw-less finish was chosen for the switches, sockets and other electrical outlets. These were used throughout the project to complement the stunning interior design, best described as modern minimalist. Crabtree Euromodule plates were used in each apartment to neatly provide power, TV, satellite, dab radio and data outlets, providing full output capabilities at the point of use for the residents’ entertainment and media centres. For ease of installation, these multi-media outlets are configured on site to exact customer specification from readily available standard components.
A large underground car park for residents is a vital but discreet additional facility that makes no visual impact upon the harmony of the grounds. At one stage the buildings were under threat and the Poet Laureate John Betjeman wrote in their defence: "I have only seen the outside of Royal Masonic School at Bushey. I can see that it is a pleasant mixture of the grand and the intimate and its like will not be built again." Happily, instead of being destroyed, it became a Grade II listed property and home to the International University, Europe during the final years of the 20th century, before being purchased by Comer Homes. Reflecting the total scale of this project, the overall value of product supplied by wholesaler CEF in Croydon for the 300+ apartment units was in excess of £250K.