Ashgate Junior School, Front Block, Dining Hall And Boundary Wall

This is a former infant school, dated 1879, designed by Thomas Coulthurst, the Borough Surveyor of Derby. Minor additions and alterations were made in the 20th century. The building is constructed of red brick with blue brick, moulded brick, and ashlar dressings, with gabled and hipped Welsh slate roofs. It is designed in the Gothic Revival style, featuring polychrome brick and stone, buttresses, and coped gables. Most of the windows are original, featuring glazing bar sashes.

The central block is two storeys, with a double range and wings to the east and west. A large projecting cross wing extends to the west, incorporating a gable and a square corner tower. The central block has a projecting gable with four-light windows on each floor, above which is a plate-traceried round window. Two-light windows flank the central gable. The wings each have a pointed arch doorway, one of which is blocked, and two-light windows above. The projecting right gable contains five-light windows on each floor, topped with a plate-traceried round window. The corner tower has three stages, with clasping buttresses and machiolations. It features a pointed arched doorway, two-light windows above, recessed panels each with a traceried round window. A single-storey rear wing, five bays wide, has regular fenestration and a hipped cross wing. The rear elevation exhibits primarily regular fenestration, with mid-20th century two-storey additions to the right and left.

Internally, classrooms feature matchboard dadoes with quatrefoil ornament, framed doorcases, and original six-panel doors, with some having framed window surrounds. One classroom has a half-glazed folding partition. Open well staircases have cast iron balustrades with added guard rails. The first-floor hall has an arch braced roof that was ceiled in during the mid-20th century. A cloakroom contains a moulded span beam on corbels, supported by a cast iron column. A former science or craft room, now used as a dining hall, was added in 1895 by Robert Harrison. It is a single-storey building with slate roofs and terracotta ridge tiles, and incorporates a steel bar tension roof with clerestory lights, with twelve windows on each side.

The boundary wall, railings, and gates were also designed in 1879 by Thomas Coulthurst. The wall is constructed of red brick with ashlar dressings and includes three single cast iron gates supported by moulded brick piers with plinths and chamfered capitals. The plinth wall has chamfered ashlar coping, with the railing renewed in the mid-20th century. A single panel of cast iron railing, matching the gates, remains at the west end and is consistent with the original design of the school buildings.