The Old School

The Old School is a National School, dating to 1846, designed by Pearson. A Preliminary Statement from 1853 is held at the Cornwall Records Office. It has been extended in two phases during the later 19th century. The building is constructed of slatestone rubble with granite quoins, copings, and dressings, and has dry Delabole slate roofs with coped gable ends; some areas were formerly roofed with double Roman tiles. It is an example of Tudor style architecture. Originally, the school comprised a large schoolroom and a smaller room to the north of the east front. An entrance porch with a bellcote projects slightly to the left of centre and is attached to the left-hand wing. A schoolroom and classroom extension was added to the right (north) of the original schoolroom, parallel to it, creating a small open courtyard to the rear, with a further classroom built over this courtyard. The building is single-storey. The east front features the left and right gable ends of projecting cross wings; the entrance porch with bellcote is slightly forward of the left-hand wing. The right-hand gable end contains reused granite stonework, possibly from the original north gable of the schoolroom. Each gable has a plinth, a central four-light stepped gable, a slit ventilator with slate louvres above, corbelled kneeler courses, and cruciform gabletted finials. The porch gable is surmounted by an original granite ashlar bellcote, featuring a four-centred, moulded doorway with a stepped hoodmould enclosing a shield, and a plaque with a round-moulded border. The porch has an original single-light window on its north wall and a two-light window on its east wall, while the original classroom has similar windows. Other windows are in a matching style, with the exception of a conservatory added in 1985 to the left-hand (south) side wall. The interior was remodelled in 1985, but retains its arch braced roof structure. In 1852, the average number of children attending was 51 boys and 1 girl. The design of this school is similar to Devoran Primary School, also by Pearson.