Education Centre, Broughton Schools, Broughton Road, Edinburgh

Education Centre, Broughton Schools, Broughton Road, Edinburgh

A monumental Queen Anne school building comprising two sections: the principal block designed by Robert Wilson in 1897 and the McDonald Road extension designed by John A Carfrae in 1903. The complex is 2 storeys with attic accommodation throughout.

The principal northeast block is 11 bays wide, constructed in squared and snecked sandstone ashlar with red sandstone ashlar detailing at ground level and margins. It features a base course with round-arched keystoned windows at ground floor, a cill band at first floor, a cornice course above the first floor, and a cill band at attic level. The composition is dominated by a 3-bay projecting gable to the centre, topped with a Venetian window to the gablehead. The flanking gablehead bays are set back, with a 2-storey gablehead bay projecting to the outer right.

The northeast elevation displays windows to 9 centre bays at ground level with regular fenestration above. Two segmental dormerheads flank the centre, which is crowned by a Venetian window. The outer bays feature architraved windows at ground level with architraved entrances and fanlights. Stone-mullioned tripartite windows appear to both floors above, with decorative motifs to the gablehead. Additional stone-mullioned tripartites at ground and first floors carry segmental pediments to first floor level. Windows to the side elevations of the projecting centre bays provide further articulation.

The southeast McDonald Road block, connected to the principal block by a modern link, is 7 bays on its northeast elevation facing Broughton Road. This elevation features round-arched keystoned windows at ground level, stone-mullioned bipartites to the right at first floor, and windows to the remaining bays. The centre bay displays segmental arched tall stone-mullioned bipartites with decorative motifs on the second floor in bays 2, 4, and 6.

The southeast elevation onto McDonald Road is the most elaborate, comprising 20 bays (17 along McDonald Road, 3 to the canted corner). The building is 2 storeys with attic and basement accommodation. A 2-leaf timber panelled door is positioned within a corniced and architraved entrance in bay 14, directly below a window with cornice and pediment. A date panel inscribed 1903 marks the centre, with a small window to the left of the entrance and windows in 3 bays to the right, diminishing in size toward the outer right. The remaining bays feature keystoned round-arched windows.

Stone-mullioned bipartites appear to the left and to alternate bays at first floor, with windows filling the remaining bays. Bay 12 contains a stone-mullioned bipartite flanked by windows, while bay 14 features a stone-mullioned tripartite with windows to all remaining bays, again reducing in size toward the outer right. The attic and upper storeys display regular fenestration with smaller windows overall.

Segmental-headed dormers with decorative panels to the tympani occupy bays 3 and 9. A paired gablehead sits between bays 5 and 7, with corbelled stripped pilasters flanking a blank panel linking the gableheads at the centre. A ridge ogee cupola crowns this composition. The canted corner bays feature regular fenestration to left and right, with a stone-mullioned bipartite beneath a segmental-headed dormer with decorative panel at the centre above, flanked by stone-mullioned bipartites. A bracketed broken pediment with keystone crowns a carved panel. The inscription 'Broughton Higher Grade School' is carved at first floor level to the centre.

Throughout, the buildings feature timber sash and case windows with multi-pane glazing. The roofs are covered in grey slates with ridge and wall head stacks topped with terracotta cans. Cast-iron railings complete the metalwork detailing.

A 2-storey janitor's house with single bay gable head stands to the right of the principal elevation adjoining East Claremont Street, featuring stone-mullioned tripartite windows at each floor and a set-back entrance to the left. A 2-storey, 5-bay play shelter to the rear provides additional accommodation with windows at first floor level.

The boundary comprises low coped, stepped ashlar walls. Square plan pedestal gatepiers with cornices and ball finials mark the principal elevation, while simpler square plan gatepiers with cornices define the McDonald Road elevation.

The interior was not inspected at the time of survey in 1998.