Assembly Hall and Reception, Gordon's School

Assembly Hall and offices, completed in 1887. Designed by William Butterfield in Gothic Revival style. C20 additions are not of special interest.

MATERIALS: mainly red brick in Flemish bond with some black brick decoration and stone dressings. The roof is tiled with two brick and stone chimneystacks clasping the ridge.

PLAN: a two-bay, single-storey Assembly Hall and offices over two storeys.

EXTERIOR: the principal front faces south overlooking the playing fields. It comprises two large gables each with a giant five bay, two tier Caernarvon-arched window within pointed stone arches, with chequer-work brick and stone decoration to the tympanums, a series of stone bands and cross-shaped saddlestones. Between is a projecting porch with similar saddle-stone and chequer-work details to the gable, and a cambered arched doorcase within a four-centred arch with a C20 double door.

The north side facing the parade ground has two similar gables with stone saddle-stones and bands but with three-light Caernarvon-arched windows on the first floor, and slightly-projecting two-light Caernarvon-arched windows on the ground floor. The ground floor windows are flanked by single-light Caernarvon-arched windows and doorcases with C20 panelled doors. The central single-storey projecting central part is a C20 addition, as are the single-storey brown brick additions on to the sides of the gables. The side elevations have gables with chequer-work details and some Caernarvon-arched windows; the west side has a further C20 addition.

INTERIOR: the assembly hall is of two bays with a giant arch dividing the bays and a boarded roof. The north wall has a central slate and marble tablet commemorating the life and achievements of General Gordon, flanked by wooden memorials to two founders, General Higginson and General Sir Dighton Probyn.