Cheriton Primary School

CHERITON FITZPAINE CHERITON FITZPAINE SS 80 NE 7/19 - Cheriton Primary School 26.8.65 - II

School, formerly Poorhouse. C18 and C19, converted to school in C20. Plastered cob and rubble; rubble and brick stacks topped with C20 brick; thatched roof. Long building fronting onto the Church of St Matthew's graveyard to the west. At the right (south) end the first floor room extends over the street carried on an arcade of timber posts. The rest comprises 5 classrooms. Mostly single storey. Irregular 8-window west front. Main door is set left of centre. It is C20, set high in wall and reached by a flight of volcanic stone steps with rubble walls which curve out to circular-section piers; the ashlar coping is weathered slightly on each side. Secondary door immediately to left. Most of windows are tall C20 casements, the 2 towards right have mid C20 brick surrounds. Near right end is a curving oven projection from a disused C18 or C19 stack. The ridge and eaves rise a little left of centre and dip again near left end. Gable-ended left (north) end over exposed rubble end wall with C20 brick dressings. Roof hipped to right (south). First floor includes single C20 iron-framed casement with glazing bars and the 4 plain posts of the arcade rest on volcanic stone pads now included in the kerb of the pavement. The posts are now strengthened with C20 uprights. Rear (east) elevation includes another series of tall C20 windows with glazing bars arranged in the same irregular rhythm as the west front. Interior result of C20 conversion to school. This is thought to be the longest thatch-roofed building in Gt Britain. According to Church Commissioners' report of 1818 the building was then a school and poor-house Source: Devon SMR

Listing NGR: SS8677606189