Byron First School

The Byron First School, built in 1901, with additions in 1905 and later in the 20th century, is a primary school constructed of rockfaced stone and ashlar, featuring ashlar dressings and hipped Welsh slate roofs with coped side wall stacks. The building comprises two main blocks, with the one to the right slightly projecting, alongside an entrance block to the left and a utility block to the right.

The windows are predominantly cross casements, with some reglazing, and feature stone mullions and transoms. The left block, two storeys high with a basement, has six bays. The basement level incorporates six segment arched openings, five with 20th-century glazing, and one with an inserted door. Above, six segment arched windows are divided by rusticated pilasters and linked label moulds, with the label moulds doubled over the central pair of windows, which have later 20th-century glazing. A further level above contains three reglazed windows flanked by original windows, all under coped gables, with additional single windows flanking them – all windows on this level have flat heads. The right block, single storey with a basement, has four bays with four segment arched basement openings, glazed, one with an inserted door. The level above contains four cross casements.

The entrance block, located to the left, has a slightly projecting centrepiece under a shouldered gable with kneelers. It contains a four-light cross-mullioned window flanked by doorcases, the left-hand doorcase being blocked. The design includes rusticated pilasters and segmental pediments. Above the window, a stepped cross-mullioned window, four lights, is dated 1905 with a pediment. Side ranges flank the entrance block: the range to the right has glazing bar windows on three levels, while the range to the left boasts a three-light mullioned window, and above it a smaller, similar window with the central light stepped under a coped gable. At the extreme left end is a rectangular tower, two storeys high, featuring a ramped pediment. The utility range is two storeys high and has two mullioned windows on the ground floor and two larger cross casements above. A large, external square stack with panelled sides, a cornice, and coping is situated at the rear.

The rear elevation shows the block to the right with six bays and cross casements on each floor, with a doorway inserted on the ground floor to the left. The block to the left, two storeys in height, has four bays, containing a cross casement to the left and a large splayed opening to the right, encompassing a doorway with overlight and sidelights. Above, a mullioned window is located to the left, with three single lights to the right. The left corner is splayed and corbelled, presenting a transomed window on the ground floor.

The interior features a main hall with a two-storey height, including a gallery supported by cast iron brackets with an ornamental wrought iron balustrade. The roof, formerly incorporating skylights, has wooden principal rafters with angle-iron bracing and tie rods. Half-glazed doors provide access to ground floor classrooms, while panelled doors serve those above. A smaller hall mirrors the roof design of the main hall, with skylights on all sides. The classrooms have plain finishes, incorporating matchboard dadoes.