Arbirlot Primary School, Arbirlot

Arbirlot Primary School dates to circa 1876 and was originally built as a single-storey, L-shaped structure. Early 20th-century additions expanded the building to a Z-plan, with further modern additions to the northeast and rear. The architecture combines various details, notably including a pinnacled bellcote. The exterior is constructed from squared, snecked, and stugged sandstone rubble, with rounded corners that project slightly below the eaves. Raised window surrounds are a prominent feature, and the early 20th-century sections have bipartite windows.

The southeast elevation shows, to the left, a more recent section with a modern glazed door set behind a parapet wall of steps. The original two-bay section is centrally located; the left bay has a gable-end with two windows flanking a taller central window, all featuring round heads and shaped cills. Above this, there’s a small tripartite opening of a similar design, and a double window of round-headed lights to the right bay. A modern two-bay section is located to the right.

The southwest elevation is predominantly from the early 20th century, featuring a two-bay advanced section to the left, a central two-bay section and steps leading up to a single bay of the original building at the far right.

The northeast elevation displays a four-bay arrangement; three bays to the left are obscured at the lower level by a modern addition. An advanced gable-end bay is present to the left, with a small round-headed opening at the apex. Internally, a blocked opening and a window with two round-headed lights are visible, alongside a formerly original window that has been altered to create a door with a large window above.

The northwest elevation presents the gable-end of the original building, with two windows flanking a taller central window, all round-headed with shaped cills. Above this is a small tripartite opening of a similar pattern. A modern prefabricated addition is linked to the original building.

The windows generally have four-pane glazing in timber sash and case frames. The northwest elevation retains the original glazing pattern in its timber windows, while the southeast elevation features uPVC windows. The 1876 building is roofed with pitched graded slate; the early 20th-century additions have piended slate roofs. Overhanging bracketed eaves, stone skews and moulded skewputts, and stone apex finials (missing from the southeast elevation) are notable. The original building’s ridge features a round-arched bellcote incorporating flanking stacks with circular cans, and a corniced ridge stack adorns the early 20th-century addition, with one can featuring heart-shaped cut-outs. Some cast iron rainwater goods are present.