Aller Park School

Aller Park School is a nursery or primary school at Dartington School, built between 1929 and 1931. It was designed by Ides van der Gracht of Delano and Aldrich of New York. The building is constructed of snecked local grey limestone with a tooled face, and has a graded Delabole slate roof with coped gable ends to the cross-wings, including kneelers. Large stone gabled stacks are present.

The overall plan is E-shaped, with a central kitchen wing projecting at the rear. It is an example of Domestic Revival style architecture.

The building is two storeys and an attic. The symmetrical front has a 2:6:3:6:2 bay arrangement. A cross-gabled central wing is flanked by lower ranges that return to form gable-ended cross-wings. Between the wings are single-storey flat-roofed ranges featuring large segmental-arched windows with buttresses in between. The centre block has a broad gable with a moulded doorway flanked by windows, and above, a lead-clad semi-circular oriel with windows on either side and a sundial. Large gabled stacks are positioned either side of the centre wing, and above the roof is an octagonal, lead-clad, louvred bellcote. The flanking cross-wings have three ground-floor windows, two above, and a small attic window within each gable. The returns on the left and right sides each feature a small gable and a moulded stone cambered arch doorway. At the rear, the cross-wings project, and the wider centre gable has a large integral stack and a lower wing projecting, with a large three-light window set within a segmental arch recess. All windows have original metal frame casements with small panes. Original square-section gutters and drainpipes are present, along with large moulded cast-iron rainwater heads.

The interior remains largely intact, featuring oak block floors and whitewashed cement-rendered walls. Original oak joinery is present, including panelled doors, cupboards, wainscotting, and high picture rails. An oak open-well staircase is fitted with a closed panelled balustrade and small turned knobs on the handrail. A full-height kitchen is located in the centre rear wing, alongside a pantry, both with glazed cupboards. There are also offices for a dietician, doctor, and psychologist at the rear. Axial corridors include observation windows to the front playrooms. A large staff common room on the first floor has a simple fireplace with tiles by Bernard Leach, flanked by bookcases. A playroom has a fireplace with a white tiled surround, also likely by Bernard Leach, depicting birds. Bathrooms and lavatories are notable for their attractive mozaic walls and floors, and the presence of original baths and basins.