Cheltenham College Gymnasium, Pavilion, Five Courts And Attached Railings

CHELTENHAM

SO9521SW THIRLESTAINE ROAD 630-1/24/931 (North side) 14/12/83 Cheltenham College Gymnasium, Pavilion, Fives Courts and attached railings (Formerly Listed as: THIRLESTAINE ROAD Cheltenham College Gymnasium, Railings to Cheltenham College Playing Field)

GV II

Gymnasium, pavilion and fives courts with attached railings and gates. 1864 by FH Lockwood with later additions and alterations including c1960s upper stages to pavilion. Gault brick with red and black brick patterning and hipped roofs, that to gymnasium is hipped; iron railings and gates. Severely symmetrical Gothic in polychrome materials. EXTERIOR: Fives Courts: single tall storey, 4 bays with lean-to at right. Each bay has pilaster between and double plank doors with divided lights over. Sloped roof. Severely plain at rear with upper frieze of polychrome brick. Pavilion: Outer single-storey, 2-window ranges, now 2-storey, with single tall storey and sloped roof between. Outer bays have two 2-light windows with trefoils to heads and continuous hoodmoulds; range at right has 3 similar windows. To rear a brick band with 8 small windows above. Gymnasium: 2-storey, 7-bay centre flanked by projecting 2-stage towers with broach spires; further extensions with outer lean-tos interrupted by projecting gabled breaks. Centre section has 2 levels of pointed-arched windows with plate tracery and polychromatic voussoirs linked by polychromatic impost band. Balcony and rostrum with quatrefoil motif. Similar windows to ground floor of extension and gabled ranges, with oculus to gable, otherwise decorative brickwork to upper stage. Centre and ends have polychromatic eaves treatment, with frieze, dentil cornice and cogged eaves. Towers have band and patterned brick work to lower stage, then pair of lancets with polychrome voussoirs impost band; clock and pairs of 2-light belfry openings to each side, polychrome voussoirs and impost band, decoratively treated eaves. Entrances: off-centre and to base of tower: arched openings with plank doors and pointed overlights, some blind. Front to Thirlestaine Road blank apart from 7 arched windows at first-floor level.

INTERIOR: not inspected. SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: railings and gates between have alternate fleurs-de-lys and spearhead bars. Verey describes this as 'very nice'. Abuts Railings to Cheltenham College Playing Fields, Sandford Road, and College Lawn (qv). HISTORICAL NOTE: the planning of gymnasia had been refined by the army's Physical Training Corps in the 1850s and subsequently sport became an integral part of the Victorian public school movement. This is a very impressive example of its type. (The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 135).

Listing NGR: SO9497621350