The Old Grammar School, Number 4, And Attached Wall, Gate And Steps

The Old Grammar School, now used as a library, offices, and domestic accommodation, was originally founded in 1669, with later reorganization in the late 18th century. It is constructed of red brick with ashlar detailing and features an iron gate and attached wall. The roof is hipped, clad in pantiles, with sprocket eaves and a central rendered ridge stack. It sits on a moulded brick plinth with brick quoins. The building is two storeys plus an attic, comprising five bays. A first-floor band runs around the building. A central doorway is accessed by a double wooden panelled and part-glazed door, dated 1757, set in a wooden frame. Flanking this doorway are rusticated brick pilasters topped with painted orb finials. To the right of the entrance are two glazing bar sashes, with a bell in a wooden and pantile frame and a 20th-century plaque positioned between them. To the left of the doorway is a single similar sash and, further left, a recessed panel with painted glazing bars. Above the entrance are four smaller glazing bar sashes, topped by a central shaped and painted panel inscribed “1669 Ingredere Ut Proficias Condita Disciplinae Charitatique Desigrata A Carola Read. What God Hath Built Let Not Man Destroy. Faxit." A moulded and painted segmental hood mould is positioned above the panel. Three box dormers, each with a 20th-century casement window, are visible in the attic. A projecting 18th-century stair turret extends from the rear of the building.

Attached to the front right of the building is a buttressed red brick wall with moulded coping, standing approximately 1.5 metres high. This wall extends north for 7 metres, meets a brick pier with damaged shaped ashlar coping, turns at a right angle, drops to 1 metre in height, and extends a further 23 metres east before turning south and extending 7 metres. The north wall is broken by a pair of brick piers with shaped ashlar coping. A central decorative wrought iron gate is flanked by narrow wrought iron screens that slope upwards to meet the piers. Three semi-circular stone steps lead down to the pavement.

The interior retains chamfered spine beams with run-out stops and two boards dated 1706 which contain guidelines for school conduct. The stair turret contains an open well staircase with 17th-century turned balusters. The Grammar School was founded in 1669 by Charles Read, who also founded the Grammar School at Corby, Lincolnshire, in 1673.