Old School House

SO 8463 OMBERSLEY CP WORCESTER ROAD (west side)

9/199 Old School House

14.3.69

GV II

School, now garage offices. Early C18 with mid-C19 and mid-C20 alterations. Handmade brick in random bond, whitened to front elevation, plain tiled roof with overhanging eaves, hipped on return to Church Lane, large external brick stack with offsets to rear right, also small brick stack to left side. L-shaped plan; two storeys and attic with dormers; brick plinth, 2-course band between storeys, moulded eaves cornice. Front elevation: main entrance to right of centre has a moulded flat canopy on consoles, 6-panelled door and transom light with central glazing bar; three windows on each floor, 2- and 3-light casements under gauged flat heads with projecting keyblocks, blind window on first floor to left of centre; two gabled dormers with 2- light casements. Return to Church Lane gable end, facing west, is a shaped gable with ball finial designed to face the church in its earlier position. Interior not inspected. The building was a former charity school and on the blind first floor window of the front elevation is the following inscription: "This Charity School House/ founded by Richard Lloyd/ of Comhampton in this/ Parish Yeoman/ 1729/ For the instructing such/ children of this Parish in Reading/ English Writing and Arithmetic/ only whose Parents are not assessed/ at above Five Pounds a Year".

This inscription refers to the money and lands assigned by Richard Lloyd in his will to establish an Educational Trust responsible for founding a school here in Ombersley Village, and at Sytchampton (qv).

Listing NGR: SO8448963513