North Street School And Attached Walls And Railings

The North Street School, built in 1853, stands with attached walls and railings. The front, facing west, is constructed of rough Ham Hill stone ashlar, while the rear features limestone rubble and brick, all beneath a slate roof with brick stacks. The north-facing front is a single-storey building arranged symmetrically with three windows, executed in a Domestic Tudor/Gothic style. The central block incorporates three-light mullioned and transomed windows with cast-iron frames and small panes, topped by a cornice and a parapet inscribed "National Daily and Sunday Schools, erected by Voluntary Subscription AD 1853". A bellcote with an offset gable and obelisk finial sits centrally. Flanking the main entrance, a diagonally-planked Gothic door with ornamental strap hinges is set within a segmental-arched architrave. This is positioned within gabled walls screening a single-storey lean-to to the left and a gabled wing to the right. The rear building is a large structure of limestone rubble, with a circular louvre in the gable facing west. The east-facing gable also has a larger circular louvre, accessible via a brick staircase leading to a first-floor door. The staircase is flanked by three-light mullioned and transomed windows. The right return is two storeys and features a four-window range on the first floor with paired 4/4-pane sashes, thick wooden lintels, and brick surrounds. The ground floor on the right return has two three-light mullioned and transomed windows and a door. The left return's first floor exhibits three paired 4/4-pane sashes with wooden lintels and a single 4/4 sash to the right. The ground floor has 6/6-pane horned sashes and a single three-light mullioned and transomed window to the left of centre. Internally, the school displays typical mid-19th century features, including tongue-and-groove panelling to the lower portion of the walls. The forecourt is enclosed by a low Ham Hill stone wall, stepped to follow the hill’s contour; the piers have pyramidal tops and spearhead railings. Stone steps flanked by low walls lead to each entrance. The rear building is enclosed by a high stone rubble wall.