Marlborough House School

Marlborough House School is a large house dating from 1723, with significant extensions from 1879 to 1880 by George Devey for Edward Hardcastle, and later 20th-century additions. The original building is of red brick with a plain tiled roof, while the extensions incorporate red brick, tile hanging, and timber and plaster.

The 18th-century wing is two storeys and has an attic, featuring a plinth, a flat band, and a coved rendered cornice to a panelled parapet. A hipped roof is punctuated by four pedimented dormers, and there are stacks to the left and at the rear right. The facade has seven glazing bar sashes on the first floor, and six on the ground floor. The central three bays project, topped with a pediment containing a keyed roundel. All window openings have gauged heads, with the centre first-floor window exhibiting wave-moulded bricks. A central door comprises six raised and fielded panels, set within a pedimented doorcase with engaged Ionic columns. The left return mirrors this pattern, but with blank window spaces in the central pedimented projection and canted bays to the left and right. Later 20th-century brick extensions are situated to the rear left. The right return presents a simple elevation with a cornice and parapet. A 20th-century single-storey linking piece connects to a stable block, and a gabled, irregular rear elevation belongs to the 19th-century wing, displaying a terracotta plaque with an achievement.

The 19th-century wing is influenced by R. Norman Shaw. The section adjoining the original house is in a Classical style, with a two-storey canted bay featuring French doors and two glazing bar sashes on each floor, and two pedimented dormers in a hipped, projecting roof. A more vernacular-style wing is tile-hung on the first floor, with a gabled dormer and paired glazing bar sashes on the first floor, either side of a gabled semi-dormer with triple sashes. The ground floor features glazing bar sashes and a panelled door with a rectangular fanlight.

The interior includes a dog-leg staircase with turned balusters and a wreathed and ramped handrail, alongside a ramped dado panelling with baluster newels, and a pointed staircase window. The stair hall and entrance hall feature light Rococo ceilings; the former with a fine central rose, and the latter with interlaced rope work, hunting vignettes, and a sunburst, alongside a lugged fireplace surround with a cherub's head and corn-sheath keystone. The 19th-century wing houses a large, 17th-century style stone fireplace with a columned and arcaded wooden overmantel. Extensive cellars lie beneath the building.