Main Block To Edgbaston College For Girls

1. CALTHORPE ROAD 5104 Edgbaston B15 No 31 (Main block to Edgbaston College for Girls) SP 0585 NW 39/27 II 2. The college incorporates a large formerly detached Grecio-Egyptian villa of c.1835, much extended to east in 1883-86 on the foundation of the college, in a surprisingly sympathetic stucco idiom. The original villa has a 2-storey 3 bay stucco elevation with grooved ground floor with entablature over coupled formation panelled plaster strips articulating the bays containing 2 round headed full length windows in arched recesses. Coupled panelled pilasters to first floor, the windows in Greco-Egyptian eaved architraves, tripartite to right hand. The "primitive" style porch has been renovated. Doorway in Greco-Egyptian eaved architraves case. Slightly recessed extension to right of 2 bays with similar first floor articulation and coupled round headed piers of windows to ground floor. Left hand recessed (probably former service) wing with narrow windows and console bracketed doorway. Breaking forward from link with school addition is the 2-storey art block of c.1886 with pediment and blind facade. The main school additions to left hand of original house have ground quoins and coupled pilasters to first floor with entablatures to both floors. Corniced stucco chimneys. Plain entablature to original house, hipped slate roofs. Garden front of original villa of 5 bays with pilasters to ground floor and splayed architrave windows above first floor string course as on front. Left hand end has addition of 2-storey canted bay and there are 2 canted bay windows on ground floor. Rear additions for school much more in 1880s idiom of red brick, in particular the gymnasium and hall on 2 storeys of 1886 of dark red brick with rubber brick dressings, tall camber headed windows in architraves, soffit eaves with hipped slate roof. The school additions are by the Chatwin architectural practice. The interior of original villa much remodelled. Vestibule altered c.1850 with 3 bay arcade supporting vestibule from pilastered hall, foliage cornice.

Listing NGR: SP0545685554