Old School At High Wych Jmi School (North East Block)

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

16/12 Old School at High Wych JMI School (NE block) -

GV II

Village school. 1860-61 by G E Pritchett (1824-1912), opened Saturday 13 April 1861 (Bishops Stortford Observer 20 April 1861 p 1). Elaborate knapped flint L-shaped Gothic church school with steep gabled red tile roof, a little to SW of contemporary Gothic church by same architect, and with similarly elaborate schoolmaster's house at SE corner. Main range set back at right angles to road. High single storey building with lower lean-to narthex across E end and lean-to porch on N side under flatter extension of main roof. A similar gabled range continues to S with a large projecting porch under a flatter roof. Later C19 addition in angle of L-plan. E front to road has steep bargeboarded gable and surmounted by small, square, diagonally set, bell-turret with cusped timber bell stage and tall shingled spire. Elongated triple lancet window with stone dressings and dark brick alternating with stone voussoirs. Stone vent slot in gable. Uncoursed knapped flint facing with raised squared flint super arch over stepped heads of high lancet window. Lean-to porch in form of narthex below window. Tile roof with flint walls and stone dressings to plinth, paired small lancet window on left and around 4-light timber chamfered mullioned window on right, with fleur-de-lis finials to ferramenta. S gable engaged with school house. N gable has moulded stone coping, and roll moulded kneeler, stone quoins and plinth offset, but original red brick dressings to inclined buttress. Pointed arched doorway in end with 2 recessed orders and heavy plank door with elaborate iron hinges. N side asymmetrical with 2 high triple lancet gabled lucarne windows alternating with 2 tall tapered projecting chimneys, and the lean-to porch. Uncoursed knapped flint with limestone quoins, plinth offset, window dressings, moulded copings, finials and kneelers to tall lucarne windows and porch. Double line of yellow brick headers with flint between at sill level of triple lancets, and of porch window. Flint chimneys have stone quoins, plinth offset and capping but red brick sloping sections and corbel stage alternate. Pointed porch door as in E narthex. Small double window with trefoil sinking and alternating stone and dark brick arch. Interior of main range a single volume with 7-bay scissor rafter roof and tie rods. A striking Gothic school building by Pritchett no doubt made especially elaborate to complement his church of St James to N. Land for schoolhouse and school conveyed to Minister and Churchwardens in 1860 by Jones De'Ath (HRO). School intended to be used for services until church opened, and used for tea at consecration of church, 27 June 1861 (Bishops Stortford Observer, 20 April 1861 p 1, 29 June 1861 p 4: WEA III (1970) App II: illustration of architect's perspective WEA II (1967) p 28).

Listing NGR: TL4632414098