The School And School House

The School and School House, now a village hall and house, dates to 1680 with an extension in 1688, and incorporates 20th-century alterations and additions. The building is constructed of coursed squared limestone with ironstone dressings, and has a hipped plain-tile roof to the school section, with stone ridge and end stacks to the school house. It has a T-shaped plan, with a single-story and attic school and a two-story and attic school house.

The school room features a large central double-leaf door with an eared moulded stone surround, incorporating a pulvinated frieze and broken segmental pediment. This frames a limestone cartouche displaying a coat of arms of the founder. An oval limestone panel above the doorway contains a moulded stone surround and a Latin inscription commemorating the school’s foundation by Sir Samuel Jones, for the education of youth from up to four miles around. He was assisted by his executors, Henry Edmonds and Francis Cran. Three leaded cross windows are situated on the right side, with eared moulded stone surrounds. Further windows are present on the far end and left side. Other features include a chamfered plinth, quoins, wood modillion eaves, a small roof dormer to the front, and larger hipped roof dormers to the right side.

The attached schoolmaster's house has a central six-panel door with a moulded wood surround, an overlight, and a 20th-century columned porch. This door is flanked by 20th-century cross windows with ironstone jambs and stone lintels. Six-pane sash windows are on the first floor, with stone lintels; one is a false painted sash. Further details include a chamfered plinth, an ironstone eaves band, bracketed wood eaves, and two hipped roof dormers. A single-story extension to the left, built by the first master, Robert Ashbridge, in 1688, projects forward, featuring double-leaf doors, a moulded stone surround with a pulvinated frieze, and a datestone recording its construction. A plaque above this door records restoration work in 1923. The building was raised to two stories in the late 20th century and incorporated into the school house accommodation.

The interior of the schoolroom retains original benches and desks ranged around the walls, including the master’s desk. The school house has two open fireplaces with stop-chamfered bressumers, one incorporating a salt cupboard, and stop-chamfered spine beams. A fine central open well staircase with twisted balusters runs from the ground floor to the attic; the first flight has panelled risers. A corner fireplace in the first floor room features a stop-chamfered wood lintel and a cast-iron grate dating to around 1800. The attic rooms have fireplaces with stop-chamfered wood lintels, and provide access to a large attic space above the schoolroom, originally used as a dormitory. A stone-flagged hall, a fitted cupboard, and a stone cellar are also present. The cellar door has a wrought-iron latch and hinges, and other original doors remain throughout the building.