The Rodney School

The Rodney School

This building began as a house built in 1779, and was much enlarged and altered in 1904 by architect G.F. Armitage for Thomas Craven. It is constructed of red brick, rendered in places, with some ashlar dressing. The roof is hipped slate behind a parapet that is shaped in the centre, with single external right and front right stacks, remains of single stacks flanking the porte cochere, and 3 stacks to the rear.

The entrance front faces the road and is set on a plinth with first and second floor bands. The building is two and a half storeys arranged in 5 bays, with the outer single bays slightly set back. The central feature is a porte cochere with an arched entrance and decorative spandrels flanked by single Ionic pilasters, with a decorative frieze above. Over this is a single tripartite cross casement flanked by single lozenge panels dated 1904, further flanked by single fluted piers which support the parapet with decorative open carving. Outer single brackets support an architrave with single orbs at the angles.

To the right of the porte cochere is a single quadripartite casement and further right a single 2-light casement. To the left is a single storey single projecting bay with a single tripartite casement and decorative parapet. Further left is a 2-storey projecting bay with a doorway having a part glazed door flanked by single fluted pilasters and glazing bar oval panel with keyblocks over. Above is a plain frieze with outer single panelled pilasters. Above, to the right of the porte cochere, are 2 cross casements. To the left is a single tripartite cross casement and in the projecting bay a single similar smaller casement. Over the porte cochere is a single 2-light casement. To the right are 2 two-light casements and to the left a single tripartite casement with a single 2-light casement on the far left.

To the right, set back, is a two and a half storey 3-bay wing with similar plinth, parapet and bands. This has a doorway with panelled door and to the left a single tripartite cross casement with single overlight extending over all, flanked by single fluted pilasters and with 4 fleur de lys over. A glass lean-to projects, supported on 2 piers. Both the first and second floors have 2 casements, each flanked by single fluted pilasters and with single fleur de lys over. This front bears a rainwater head inscribed "I.W. 1779" and a further rainwater head inscribed "This house was reconstructed for Thomas Craven by G.F. Armitage."

Projecting from the left is a 2-storey single bay with similar plinth and parapet and first floor lintel bands. It has a single tripartite cross casement on each floor with 2 fleur de lys over each, each flanked by single pilasters. Between ground and first floor windows are the remains of a single decoratively carved panel.

Further left and projecting is a 2-storey polygonal wing with similar plinth, parapet and bands. Attached to the left is a 3-storey mock turret with domed roof topped with a single stack. The lower 2 storeys of the turret have blind arcading and fluted pilasters, with small columns supporting the dome. Windows of this wing are cross casements flanked by single fluted pilasters and with single fleur de lys over. Between first floor and second floor windows are decorative panels, with remains of similar panels under ground floor windows.

To the left, set back, is a 2-storey 7-bay wing with single ridge and left stacks and similar parapet. It has a doorway and casements. Openings on each floor are flanked by single fluted pilasters and with fleur de lys over. Between ground and first floor openings are single decorative panels. Over first floor openings are single plain panels flanked by single pilasters.

The north front has a 2-storey stair turret with domed roof and frieze under. To the right is a projecting 2-storey wooden bowed single bay. The ground floor has a doorway with glazed door and casements each flanked by single fluted pilaster strips. The first floor has a sleeping balcony with balustrade.

The rear or main garden front is of 7 bays, with the right and 2nd left single bays projecting and further canted. Extending between these 2 bays is a first floor balustraded balcony. The right 2 bays underneath are closed with casements, the left 2 bays are open, and the single central bay is bowed and projecting with casements each separated by a single fluted pilaster. The remainder of this front has various casements, some with blind panels under and hoodmoulds with decorative label stops.

The interior contains a panelled hall with large fireplace with projecting canopy supported on decorative piers, and an open well staircase with carved tread ends. A room opens out on to the garden and is also panelled. A further room contains some 18th-century and later plasterwork.