The Old School

The Old School is a converted school and master's house with origins in the 18th century, rebuilt in the mid-19th century, and modernised in the mid-20th century when the school was converted into a domestic residence. The structure is a combination of plastered cob on stone rubble footings, early brick, and 20th-century brick, with brick stacks topped with 19th and 20th-century brick. It has a thatched roof. The building follows an L-shaped plan, facing south. The front block has a two-room lobby entrance plan. To the left is the former master’s house, with a single-room plan, and to the right is a former schoolroom. An axial stack sits between the two rooms. A two-room plan block projects to the rear of the right-hand end, these rooms also being former schoolrooms, with the first room containing an internal lateral stack. The former master’s house stands two storeys high and includes a 20th-century conservatory on the end. The rest of the building is single-storey. The front elevation has two window bays, with a central doorway containing a pair of 19th-century four-panel doors. To the left is a single 20th-century casement window with glazing bars, and further casements along the left end. To the right is a full-height, 19th-century arch-headed window with timber Y-tracery and leaded glass. A similar window is located in the end of the rear wing. Other windows are 20th-century replacements. The front block’s roof is tall and steeply pitched, with half-hipped ends. The interior was not inspected. The Old School forms part of an exceptionally attractive group of listed buildings near the Church of St James.