St Richard'S School

St Richard's School is a country house, dating to circa 1810, originally built for William West. It was significantly remodelled and enlarged in 1873 by T. H. Wyatt for W. H. Barnebury, and further extended in 1902 by Sir Guy Dawber for F. Greswolde-Williams. The construction incorporates rock-faced red sandstone and sandstone ashlar, with roofs concealed behind balustraded parapets. The building has various rendered stacks, notably a large ashlar stack to the dining room.

The original 1810 house was a square structure, subsequently extended one bay to the west by Wyatt in 1873. Dawber’s 1902 additions included a single-storey dining room to the east side, and a rear wing to the northwest, replacing a previous single-storey wing. A long service wing connects to the rear on the northeast side. The architectural style is largely Italianate, reflecting the 1873 remodelling, with Baroque detailing in the 1902 additions.

The south front is symmetrical, with a 1:3:1 bay arrangement plus a further bay set back to the right, and the 1902 dining room projecting to the extreme right. Canted bays with balustrades are positioned to the left and right, detailed with moulded strings, flat window arches with keystones, and a balustraded parapet. A rendered porch sits centrally, topped by a window with volutes to the architrave. The west elevation has three bays, with two-storey square bays featuring balcony balustrades; sash windows are largely un-sashed. Further additions in 1902 include large round-headed ground floor windows and a square two-storey bay. A range set back to the north features a pedimented west front. The 1902 dining room projects to the east, displaying Baroque features, including a Venetian window beneath a broken pediment, rusticated pilasters, Gibbs surrounds, and a large chimney stack with a segmental pediment and pair of chimney shafts. The rear north elevation incorporates sash windows, a Venetian stair window, and wings to the left and right, connected by lower ranges.

The interior retains features from both the 1873 and 1902 renovations. The 1873 work includes a panelled entrance hall and staircase detailed with strapwork newels and twisted balusters. The 1902 dining room features a segmental vaulted moulded plaster ceiling, possibly designed by G.P. Bankart, panelling with carved festoon drops in pilasters and Ionic columns to an arched vestibule and inglenook. A cloakroom has Delft tiles. The 1902 rear wing contains a billiard room with moulded ceiling beams and joists, an inglenook, and chambers above with chimneypieces incorporating Delft tiles, and a tiled bathroom.