College Of St Barnabas

Retirement home and nursing home for retired clergy and their wives and widows, built between 1899 and 1910 at Lingfield. The building is E-shaped, facing an open court to the south, with a chapel projecting from the centre of the north range.

The western range, western part of the north range, and the original chapel core were designed by Charles H. Rew of Berkhamsted between 1899 and 1902. The eastern range, eastern part of the north range, and the chapel enlargement were designed by C. M. Oldrid Scott of J. Oldrid Scott and Sons between 1908 and 1910. A small mortuary chapel was added to the back of the east range in 1928.

The building is constructed in vernacular revival style, using red brick with stone dressings, high tile roofs, timber gables, and leaded lights throughout.

The western range and associated 1899-1902 work comprises two main storeys, with the ground floor in brick and the upper floor faced in roughcast with some tile-hanging at the rear. Tall chimneys feature ribbed stacks. Some gables are barge-boarded with dormer windows. Single-storey canted bay windows appear on the west face and on the south face of the north range. Along the east face runs a covered timber walkway open towards the court with elliptical arches between timber columns. Along part of the south face of the north range is a first-floor balcony carried on timber columns, with diamond-leaded lights throughout.

The eastern range and associated 1908-10 work is of one main storey in brick with sandstone dressings. The west face has a roof pierced with pedimented dormers ending in a narrow two-storey pavilion with weather-boarded gable. Below is a covered timber walkway with flat ceiling and openings towards the court, carried on straight entablature between Tuscan columns. The east face has pairs of single-storey bay windows and continuous dormers in the roof. Along the south face of the north range are further single-storey bays and a first-floor balcony carried on timber columns. Square-leaded lights are used throughout.

The chapel wing projects from the centre of the north range over three bays divided by buttresses. The first-floor chapel of 1900-02 was extended southwards in 1908-10 over a porte cochere. It is constructed in brick with sandstone dressings. The upper storey has two-light cusped windows and niches to the sides with statues by Bridgeman of Lichfield, with five-light windows at the north and south ends. A timber and lead cupola sits on the roof towards the rear.

The north range has three main storeys at the rear owing to the fall of ground, with various projections and gables. Lower storeys advance in the centre, possibly a later addition. A recent lift tower stands near the east end of the range. The mortuary chapel of 1928 behind the east side has an open ground floor and a high hipped roof.

The chapel interior is mostly of 1908-10 with a collegiate arrangement of oak stalls dating from 1909. A six-bay panelled roof features arched braces, the two nearest the altar pierced and painted. An organ gallery at the rear has a richly painted front with angels and adoration by Jackson. The reredos and altar front are painted. Stained glass includes a five-light window over the altar by C. E. Kempe of 1906, and side lights by F. C. Eden of 1914. On the ground floor of the north range are a library west of centre, a common room with tiled fireplace beneath the chapel, and a refectory east of centre with ornamental plasterwork on ceiling beams and two fireplaces with eared architraves and Delft-style tiled surrounds. The residential wings contain original fireplaces in many rooms. The west wing has residential staircases with diagonal stick balusters and square newels. The east wing contains ground-floor flats with nursing accommodation above.

A Warden's Lodge is situated to the south, designed by J. Oldrid Scott and Sons in 1908-9. It is of two storeys and follows a similar architectural idiom.

This is a late example of a college for retired clergy, designed in picturesque revivalist style and retaining high quality fixtures.