Gatepiers And Railings, Gates, Former Balshagray Public School Including, 27 Broomhill Avenue

This is a substantial, three-storey, 12-bay former Board School constructed in 1904, designed by Donald Bruce and Edward A B Hay, with a long, rectangular swimming pool block and a two-storey former janitor's house attached to the right. The school is located at 27 Broomhill Avenue, and is built in an expressive Roman-Renaissance style, characterized by its symmetrical principal (north) elevation and pedimented outer bays. The building is constructed of squared and snecked red sandstone with polished ashlar margins.

The principal elevation exhibits channelled rustication on the ground floor, deep moulded cornicing between each floor, and a blocking course. The pedimented outer bays are marked by wide, double-height Corinthian pilasters and engaged columns to the windows, with Tuscan capitals on the ground floor, Ionic on the first floor, and Tuscan on the second floor. Moulded round-arched windows with keystones sit above the pilasters. A recessed central six-bay section displays inscriptions: ‘BALSHAGRAY PUBLIC SCHOOL’ with date panels for 1904, and ‘GOVAN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD’ between the first and second floors. The rear elevation has raised cills. A tall, square chimney rises from the ground, breaking the eaves at the centre right, with corniced string courses. Advanced sections are present on the east and west elevations, featuring regularly arranged bi-partite fenestration separated by moulded panels. Separate entrances are present at the southwest angle for ‘BOYS’ with segmental-arch moulding, and at the rear left for ‘INFANTS’. A deep, single-storey projection is situated on the east elevation, finished with a blocking course and ball finials. A later single-storey addition to the southeast angle cuts through the former ‘GIRLS’ entrance. Timber sash and case windows with six panes are predominantly found on the side and rear elevations, although replacements exist on the principal elevation. The roof is piended and clad in grey slate, with crested terracotta ridges, and features cast iron rainwater goods.

The interior boasts a double-height central hall with galleries on the first and second floors. A decorative hammerbeam-type roof incorporates baluster details and glazed rooflights. Doorways are framed by segmental-arched architraves, and stairwells on the east and west sides are fitted with scrolled iron and timber handrails. A green-bordered tiled dado runs throughout.

The swimming pool block has a six-bay entrance elevation to Broomhill Avenue with a shaped apex, moulded eaves course, and continuous glazed timber rooflight. The two-bay, two-storey former janitor's house is situated to its right, with a pitched grey slate roof. The pool interior comprises a rectangular pool with white tiles, white glazed brick walls up to gallery height, and changing cubicles along the south wall. Stone stairs at either end lead to a timber-floored deck and viewing gallery, with decorative scrolled wrought iron railings. Cast iron roof supports feature pierced quatrefoil detailing.

Gatepiers and boundary walls, predominantly low sandstone with ashlar coping and scrolled iron railings, form the boundary to the south, east, and west. Polished ashlar square-section gatepiers have ball finials, although one finial is missing at Broomhill Drive.