The Ball Place at Downside School

The Ball Place at Downside School is a pair of ball courts built in 1854 and designed by Charles Hansom. Constructed from ashlar, likely white lias, and stone rubble, this monumental stone structure measures approximately 30 meters wide and 12 meters high.

The main elevation, facing south-east, features two tall playing walls with short angled wings, all topped by stepped crenellation. In the center, there is a lower, open-fronted section that contains a blind niche or shelter with a sloping timber boarded ceiling beneath a pointed-arched head. Above the arch, the masonry is made of coursed, cut, and squared rubble with a relieving arch, also topped with stepped crenellation. The rear elevation, facing north-west, is built from random stone rubble with ashlar quoins. Each court has a stepped buttress, and the central section protrudes forward under a pentice slate roof.

The playing surface of the courts, which is now covered with tarmac, extends south-eastwards.