Devoran Primary School And Perimeter Walls And Railings

Devoran Primary School, along with its perimeter walls and railings, is a National School built in 1846 by J.L. Pearson. It was extended around 1871, with further modifications in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The building is constructed from slatestone rubble, which has been partly rendered to mimic stone, and features granite quoins, copings, and dressings that add architectural detail. The roof is made of dry Delabole slate and has gable ends.

Originally, the school had one large classroom and a smaller room to the north, forming a T-shaped plan with an entrance porch at the front. The building was later extended with a large classroom at right angles to the rear, which has since been partly demolished, and additional cloakroom spaces were added to both the left (north) and rear (west) of the south wing. The school is designed in a Tudor style and is a single-storey structure.

The west front features the original entrance, which is slightly projecting from the gable end of the original schoolroom. This entrance porch includes a 4-centred arched granite doorway with a stepped label that encloses a shield, topped by a granite ashlar coped bellcote that still houses the original bell. The gable end of the schoolroom to the right has an original 4-light mullioned window with stepped lights and a ventilator above. The copings on the gable were likely removed when the roof was reslated.

Inside, the school retains its original arch-braced roof structures, although these are concealed by later 20th-century ceilings. Some old doors and dado boarding are also present. The perimeter walls run along the north, east, and west sides, with the market house to the south. The original wall to the west still stands and features granite monolith gate-piers and a wrought iron gate. Each gate-pier has a cruciform finial with four gablets, and the walling is ramped to the left (north) of the gateway. The north wall has shaped granite coping topped with hooped iron railings, while the east wall has lavatories, which were formerly earth closets, built against it. These walls are included for their group value. Despite alterations, enough of the original structure remains to demonstrate the similarities with The Old School at Feock, also designed by Pearson, and it significantly contributes to the village center.