War Memorial

War Memorial School

This classically-detailed school building comprises three tall, piend-roofed, two-storey rectangular ranges with lower entrance links, a T-shaped projection, and various single-storey ranges to the rear. The main structure dates from 1893, with facades and wings added in 1903. The building was rebuilt after a fire in 1929.

The exterior is finished in stugged coursed and squared rubble with ashlar dressings, finely droved and stugged. The base is rock-faced to ground floor cill level, with a moulded band course and first-floor cill course. Stone mullions feature stop-chamfered arrises. The eaves incorporate a cornice with blocking course. Smaller windows appear at first-floor level. Grey slate roofing covers the main ranges. Stepped and coped squared rubble gablehead stacks are present, with cast-iron downpipes featuring decorative rainwater hoppers.

The principal north elevation shows the centre range with four bipartite windows to each floor and an almost full-width horizontal rooflight. Irregular fenestration appears on the returns, with flanking set-back bays incorporating doors and asymmetrical fenestration. A further four-bay range to the right displays three arcaded windows at ground level and a small horizontal four-light window at first floor. A return to the left has a round-arched window at ground level and a tall first-floor window breaking into a flat dormerhead. A set-back bay at the outer right contains a small ogee-arched window at ground level, with small windows above and two further small first-floor windows on the return. A narrow, plainer range to the outer left has three round-arched windows at ground level and a small horizontal four-light window at first floor, with asymmetrically-fenestrated returns.

The west elevation, facing Queen's Road, displays a variety of elements across a stepped two-storey elevation extending into a single-storey range with three pilastered bays. An isolated gambrel-roofed gymnasium stands to the right, incorporating a tiny window in the gambrel and decorative terracotta ridge with finials. A further lower piended range with a corbelled angle stands beyond, followed by a later range with a shaped gable at the outer right.

The west range retains some small-pane glazing in casement and timber sash-and-case windows, though largely replacement windows are found elsewhere. Pedimented doorpieces incorporate lugged architraves, keystones, mutuled cornices, and two-leaf panelled timber doors. The west range features keystoned and pilastered arcaded ground-floor windows and a diminutive ogee-arched window. A corbelled angle marks the southwest single-storey range.

The interior follows a simple plan with a centre corridor flanked by classrooms. These classrooms feature moulded cornices, vertically-boarded timber dadoes, cast-iron coat pegs, and panelled timber doors with margined top lights; some doors are architraved. Dog-leg staircases have simple ironwork balusters, square-section timber newel posts, and timber handrails. The cloakroom contains vertically-boarded dadoes, traditional toilet cubicles with vertically-boarded timber doors, handbasins, and mural decoration dating to approximately 1960, executed by a former pupil. One scene depicts a playground with children playing hopscotch and other activities. A second scene shows a tree-lined river with a boy lying on his front looking over the bank, and other children sitting with their feet in the water. A top-lit octagonal-plan link hall leads to the isolated ranges. The gymnasium features a metal-braced open timber roof, boarded timber walls, and a lean-to timber-lined changing room.

A war memorial forms a classical ashlar bench seat with bronze plaques bearing a roll of honour affixed to the advanced faces of the outer dies. The frieze is worded "IN MEMORY OF THE MASTERS AND FORMER PUPILS OF THIS SCHOOL WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR" with flanking laurel wreaths enclosing the dates 1914 and 1919. A stylised pediment incorporating the school crest surmounts the memorial. A Second World War roll of honour has been inserted below the frieze.

Coped rubble boundary walls enclose the site, some incorporating inset railings.