Grimshaw Street School

PRESTON

SD5429SW GRIMSHAW STREET 941-1/12/159 (East side) Grimshaw Street School

GV II

School. Dated 1836 and 1845 at 1st floor of centre; with addition of 1882. Red brick in Flemish bond, with sandstone dressings and slate roof. Rectangular plan on north-south axis, with short addition to north end, plus 1882 projecting crosswing at south end. The main range is 2-storeys, 4:1:3 windows (originally 3:1:3, symmetrical, but extended by one window to the left in 1845), the centre breaking forwards slightly; with a stone plinth, 1st-floor sill-band, plain frieze and moulded cornice. Tall windows on both floors, all with raised sills and wedge lintels, including coupled windows in the centre, and all with altered glazing; and at the right-hand end a round-headed doorway with double roll-moulded surround, imposts and fanlight (matching working class domestic doorways of the earlier C19), under a stone plaque inscribed "BOYS". The centre has a stone plaque at 1st floor inscribed "ERECTED / 1836 / ENLARGED / 1845", and a long upstand on the cornice with raised lettering "GRIMSHAW ST SCHOOL". Roof with chimney at right-hand gable, hip over extension at left end. The north gable wall has a short set-back link to the church, forming an angle which has elliptical-headed doorways linked at right-angles, with Tuscan pilastered doorcases (matching middle-class domestic doorways of the period), a stone plaque inscribed "GIRLS" over that in the gable wall. The added south wing is single-storey, 5 bays, with buttresses and coupled cusped arched windows. INTERIOR: ground-floor has 3 lateral beams, all with iron rod beneath, trapping a small wheel at each end (function not known); longitudinal corridor to rear; added wing is hall with arch-braced roof. Forms group with associated United Reformed Church (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SD5449829384