Cheam School

Cheam School, built in 1870, with later additions in 1911 and 1934, began as a 17th-century house with an early 18th-century five-window extension known as Beenham Court. Around 1870, this structure was rebuilt as a large Victorian house of irregular form. The east front retains elements of the original facade, which was transformed and extended in a regular fashion by architect Detmar Blow, adopting a style reminiscent of Wren.

The front (east) elevation is three stories with six windows. It features a hipped tiled roof with three wide, flat-roofed dormers. The walls are red brick, with the second floor above window sill height using small bricks in English Garden Wall bond, while the rest of the 1870 brickwork is in English bond, enhanced with flush blue header bands that emphasize the ground-floor and first-floor window heads and ground-floor cills. Projecting bands run up to the first-floor cill and first-floor levels; a plinth incorporates blue set-offs. A low parapet is topped with a blocking course and a full cornices in moulded brickwork. Windows are leaded casements.

In 1911, the ground floor of the front section was extended with a brick cornice and pilasters enclosing an arcade at each side (the south side forming an open porch). A wide triple window fills the central section. The south side includes slightly projecting sections to produce a window arrangement of 3, 2, and 2. The two eastern sections rise two stories, while the western section is two stories with an attic, incorporating a continuous parapet cornice. Quoins and a first-floor band are also present.

The west elevation (1911) features a narrow, projecting two-story porch with two windows on either side, continuing the two-story arrangement from the south side. The doorway is elaborately decorated with a Corinthian order, featuring a shield within a segmental pediment, a pulvinated frieze, rusticated half columns against a rusticated background, an arched opening with a fanlight, panelled doors, and five splayed steps. The window above the doorway is framed by a stone architrave, cornice, and brackets. Further units extend to the north side of the west elevation, incorporating two windows continuing the treatment, alongside single-story ranges.

In 1934, a large classroom block was constructed to the east of the north side of the east front, creating a forecourt enclosed on two sides. The interior follows the classical detailing of the Wren style, most notably in the tall staircase hall, which is decorated with a rich Corinthian elevation inspired by Hampton Court Palace.