School House, Lord Wandsworth College

School House, Lord Wandsworth College

Boarding house built between 1927 and 1929, designed by Guy Dawber.

The building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with stone dressings and a clay tile roof. It follows a Y-shaped plan with a courtyard to the east, arranged over two storeys. The main entrance is positioned at the centre, with corridors leading into the wings. Ground-floor level contains communal spaces, while dormitories and washing areas occupy the second floor. Two single-storey subsidiary blocks on the north side serve as store rooms.

The south-west elevation forms the principal entrance, set at the centre of the Y-shaped plan. The focal point is a stone portico supported by two pairs of circular columns and two polygonal columns at the corners that turn the angle of the portico. A plain entablature tops the portico, above which sits a stone balustrade. Beneath the portico, the main entrance consists of wooden three-panelled doors flanked by sash windows and topped with a leaded window formed of interlocking circles. A dentilated stone architrave runs continuously around this arrangement.

Above the balustrade, three sash windows occupy the second-floor level, with a French mansard roof above. Three dormer windows punctuate the roof, the central one encased in a stone scrolled and shouldered architrave and pediment that continues along the length of the roof below the windows as a small parapet. On either side of this central range are two wings with hipped roofs, each comprising two storeys and five bays. Each bay contains a sash window to both storeys, set under segmental brick arches with stone keystones at ground-floor level. A stone string course divides the storeys, while brick quoins emphasise the building's corners. Two brick chimney stacks flank the main entrance at roof level.

The eastern elevation follows the return of the central range and continues its detailing, with three sash windows at ground level with segmental brick arches and stone keystones, and two sash windows flanking an oculus on the second floor.

The northern elevation is less ornate. Single-storey ranges at either end form utilitarian entrances to the former boot room and store; these have been modified with later windows inserted in some cases during 1950. Above these elements, the second storey of the main building is punctuated by a series of plainer sash windows. In the centre is a projecting stair tower illuminated by three large sash windows. A secondary door, a later replacement, sits to the east of the stair tower beneath a series of four concentric segmental arches and formerly gave direct access to the boot and changing rooms.

The southern and western elevations are relatively plain, with the main ranges recessed to form a small quadrangle around the central courtyard. The detailing from the main south-west elevation continues here, with sash windows punctuated by oculi and a stone string course repeated throughout.

Internally, the plan of rooms off the main corridors branching from the central staircase remains largely unaltered. The dormitories, washing areas on the first floor, and common rooms at ground-floor level have been modernised, though some retain original features, particularly at ground-floor level. The building retains many fielded-panel doors, architraves, and skirting boards.

Access is via the main entrance in the south-west elevation through a secondary set of double wood and glazed doors leading directly into the hall and main staircase, set around a central well. The architraves around the doorways of the main staircase are unusually wide and feature a faceted arched form. The staircase is constructed of stone with iron balusters and a raised wooden handrail. From this central stair well, long corridors lead to large common rooms and smaller sitting rooms. The smaller rooms on either side of the main entrance originally served as the matron's and wardens' rooms; these retain modest fireplaces, picture rails, and built-in cupboards.