West Buckland School

The West Buckland School was built in 1860-1 by R D Gould, with subsequent additions in 1863 and 1871, a wing completed in 1876, and an eastern range added in 1933. It is constructed of stone rubble with brick and ashlar dressings, with later additions mainly in brick, and slate roofs. The original range comprises a central two-and-a-half-storey block of five bays, flanked by one-and-a-half-storey wings, also of five bays. Following a fire in 1930, the right-hand (east) wing was rebuilt when the eastern range was added. A three-storey dormitory block was added to the left (west) end in 1876, creating a rear courtyard layout.

The central block has a three-storey central bay, originally topped with a bell turret, now reduced to a pyramidal roof, with two gabled half-dormers on each side, featuring trefoil-headed lights. Dated rainwater heads flank the central bay. Mullioned windows are present, with the ground floor windows featuring alternating brick and stone voussoirs and shoulder-headed lights. A segmental arched doorway is centrally placed with a shouldered architrave to double plank doors, sidelights, and stepped overlight. A pointed arched hoodmould above the doorway incorporates a sheaf motif and motto. Each wing has a rear doorway to the courtyard, leading to a porch with a lean-to slate roof in the angle with the central block.

The left-hand (west) wing has full dormers to the attic storey and two-light mullions to each floor, with the ground floor windows featuring pointed relieving arches of alternating brick and stone voussoirs. The right-hand (east) wing was refenestrated after the 1930 fire. A large oriel window is situated in the front gable end of the 1933 range. The three-storey gabled dormitory cross-wing at the left end includes a tower block with a broached corner and pyramidal roof, featuring stone brackets to the eaves. A porch is positioned in the angle with a two-centred arch. Tall buttresses flank the gable end, with stone mullion windows; three lights to the ground floor and two lights above. A stepped vent is present in the gable, with a cusped-headed centre light.

The school was founded in 1858 at South Stoodleigh by J L Brereton to serve the middle classes, bridging a gap in the education system he identified in his book County Education (1874).