Ingatestone House (South West Part)

Ingatestone House (south-west part) is an early 19th-century school building, later adapted for residential use and now combined with an adjacent house to the northeast. The building is constructed of red brick in Flemish bond, with a roof of handmade redclay tiles. The main rectangular range faces southeast, featuring an external brick stack at each side. The right-hand stack is partially incorporated into the front corner of the main house, while the left-hand stack is integrated into a 19th-century single-storey service wing to the left, with a slate roof, extended to the rear to create a garage with rear access. Two rear wings are bonded together; the left wing has an internal stack at the end and has been altered, resulting in a lower roof pitch on that side, covered in slate.

The front elevation has two 6+6 light sash windows on the ground floor, with flat arches of gauged brick, and three 8+8 light sash windows on the first floor. All windows have painted reveals and some crown glass. A central doorway has been blocked and replaced with a fixed light of 12 panes and a single panel below, set within a simple pilastered and pedimented doorcase. The overall front elevation is symmetrical. The roof is hipped. The left-hand stack, visible above the extension, displays tumbling courses at the shoulders. Approximately one metre above ground level on the right return are the initials "WC or WG" and the date 1814, likely marking the master mason and the year of construction.

The left-hand return of the left rear wing features a 12+12 light sash window with a segmental brick arch on the ground floor, and a possible early 19th-century 6+6 light casement above. The rear elevation has a 6+6 light casement with a segmental brick arch, and a similar casement on the first floor of the left rear wing, both with stone sills. The rear elevation of the service wing on the left has a 12+12 light casement with some handmade glass.

Historical records indicate that Ingatestone House was established as a seminary for young ladies in 1815 by Mrs Harvey and Miss Buchanan. It operated as “The Academy” by 1843, occupied by John and Ann Tabrum. By 1851, the school had 25 resident pupils aged between 5 and 10 years, decreasing to 19 by 1861. It remained Ingatestone House School as late as 1905, under the headmaster Thomas Watkins.