Ryton Lecture Theatre, off Cottingham Road, University of Hull, Hull

Ryton Lecture Theatre, off Cottingham Road, University of Hull

A former gymnasium converted to a lecture theatre, built between 1909 and 1913 by the Birmingham architectural practice Crouch, Butler & Savage. The building is constructed in red brick with sandstone ashlar dressings and a plain tile roof with semi-circular ridge tiles, designed in Late 17th-century Revival style (Wrennaissance).

The plan comprises a large five-bay room with an inserted staircase in the bay at the east end and separate lower end bays at the opposite end, probably former changing rooms now used for storage.

The exterior presents a tall single storey of five bays with a hipped roof and a central square latticework ventilator. Lower, single-storey pavilion blocks with flat roofs flank the main structure. The building is constructed in brick laid in English bond with ashlar stone dressings.

The south front elevation displays five taller central bays. The slightly projecting outer bays feature polychrome corners with alternating ashlar quoins and brick, and segmental pediments with moulded stone coping. Each outer bay contains a round window with glazing bars and an ashlar diamond set into the brickwork above. The fifth bay to the right has a wide inserted doorway with a concrete lintel and recessed double doors. The three central bays rest on a chamfered ashlar plinth with an ashlar eaves band. These bays are separated by polychrome pilasters and contain large rectangular windows with moulded stone sills, plain stone lintels, and timber casements with glazing bars. The pavilion blocks mirror this arrangement on either side, each featuring polychrome outer corners, a doorway with a moulded stone architrave adjacent to the central bays, and two narrow rectangular windows with moulded stone sills and soldier brick lintels. The pavilion block windows are four-over-four pane sashes, though the two right-hand windows are currently boarded.

The east side elevation of the pavilion block displays three large rectangular windows with moulded stone sills, brick soldier lintels, and timber casements with glazing bars. Both upper side elevations contain round-headed blind niches with double keystones.

The north rear elevation mirrors the detailing of the south elevation, with the outer bays of the taller central section displaying segmental pediments. The pavilion blocks project at each end. The left-hand bay of the five taller bays has inserted doorways at ground and upper levels opening onto an external metal fire escape. The right-hand bay contains inserted double doors at ground-floor level. The lower portion of the central three bays is obscured by a modern boiler house with a mono-pitch roof. Above this level are similar polychrome pilasters and large rectangular windows with timber casements with glazing bars.

The garage, two-storey extension, boiler house, and external fire escape are later additions not of special architectural or historic interest. Modern internal fixtures and fittings relating to the building's use as a lecture theatre are also not of special architectural or historic interest.