School House

TL 4614 HIGH WYCH HIGH WYCH ROAD (west side) High Wych Village

16/11 School House

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GV II

Schoolmaster's house. 1860-61 by G E Pritchett (1824-1912). Built adjacent to school opened 13 April 1861, qv. 2 storey knapped flint Gothic style with steep red tiled gabled roof with bellcast at eaves. Irregular plan with gables to S and E. Entrance on N next to school. Paired limestone lancet windows with rectangular recessed sash windows with shouldered heads and herring-bone red brick tympana. Pointed arches with alternate stone and dark brick voussoirs and narrow dark keystone. Raised knapped flint super arch to each pair of lancets. Minor upper floor windows have chamfered square stone heads (E) or have gabled heads above eaves. E front has gabled righthand side, slightly advanced. Uncoursed knapped flint with limestone for plinth dressings, quoins, window dressings and vent slot in gable. Double line of yellow brick headers with flints between at springing line of window arches on each floor. Red brick tumble work below each purlin, and heavy moulded bargeboards. Large stock brick central chimney with dentilled and corbelled upper stage with stone corners and 4 square terra-cotta pots. 2 smaller gable stacks on W. Lean-to porch with heavy roll moulded stone corbel supporting brick cheek. Heavy plank door with decorative iron hinges and shouldered head to frame. Interior sparsely fitted with battened plank doors, chamfered architraves and simple wooden fire surrounds. A little altered purpose-built schoolmaster's house of considerable social and architectural interest. Integral part of group with school, church and contemporary flint buildings E of road. (Builder 8.3.1912 p 283: WEA III (1970) 13: Bishops Stortford Observer 20.4.1861).

Listing NGR: TL4633114085