Harrington Infant School

Harrington Infant School is a former Board School, built in 1875 and later used as an infant school. It was designed by Thomas Lewis Banks for the Harrington School Board. The building is constructed of coursed, squared red sandstone rubble with detailing in buff sandstone ashlar, set on a chamfered plinth. It has steeply pitched Welsh slate roofing with decorative clay ridge tiles.

The building follows a single-storey, E-plan layout, exhibiting a symmetrical elevation to Church Road. Each arm of the “E” contains a separate hall for the Infants (central), Boys (right), and Girls (left). The central bay steps slightly forward, while the outer wings project further than the main front wall. The rear of each hall extends into the playground, creating a back-to-back, E-shaped configuration. C20 casement window frames are set within original stone surrounds featuring shouldered arches. Windows on the front and north-east elevations have hollow chamfers; elsewhere, windows are simpler with less detailing. Two arched entrances are situated at the angles of the outer wings.

The front elevation includes a central gabled bay with outer gabled wings. A coped, gabled dormer is positioned on each side of the central gable, with entrance doors situated at the angles of the outer wings. Each dormer features a two-light window with a transome and relieving arch above each light. Between the dormers and the entrance doors are three similarly detailed windows, though without transomes. This pattern is repeated on the opposite side of the central gabled bay. Matching outer gables each contain a two-light window with a transome and shouldered arch. Within the relieving arch over each window, the buff ashlar is banded; one course of the banding bears incised lettering “BOYS” and “GIRLS” respectively. Red sandstone is laid in a herringbone pattern between these bands. The gable apex has a chamfered vent. The central coped gable features kneelers, a finial, and a three-light window, with the central light stepping above the flanking lights, which similarly have shouldered arched transomes. Above this window, a relieving arch features incised lettering reading 'INFANTS'. An inscription carved into the banded ashlar reads 'HARRINGTON SCHOOL BOARD and CHURCH ROAD SCHOOLS'.

The interior retains its original plan form, with minor 20th-century partitions and suspended ceilings. Significant original features remain, including the roof structure, fireplaces, dado panelling, arched doors, and doorheads with carved spandrels.

The school is an early Board School retaining its original plan and detailing, designed in a simple Gothic style by Thomas Lewis Banks, a regionally important architect.