Prichard Jones Institute

Prichard Jones Institute

A flamboyant Neo-Tudor style institute building of asymmetrical plan, two storeys with attics. The design loosely follows a hall and cross-wing principal, with a short central range of two bays and a shorter two-storey range set back at the right end serving as the caretaker's house. The main entrance is positioned to the left within the central block, with a clock tower to its right.

The lower elevations are faced with local granite rubble, with half-timbering above and Ruabon stone dressings throughout. The roof is slate with shaped rectangular red-brick stacks bearing moulded caps; the caretaker's house to the right is distinguished by decorated terracotta ridge tiles.

The principal entrance is through a depressed pointed arch with chamfered jambs, decorated with beading in the angle, a hoodmould above and recesses in the spandrels. Above the arch runs a plain entablature broken by a moulded string, with a continuous moulded string above forming the first floor sill band. Directly over the entrance is a first floor paired casement window with sandstone lintel, each window of three lights comprising two side-hung casements with a top-hung casement over.

To the right of the entrance stands the clock tower, which rises three stages with the clock stage above. The ground floor features a hipped-roofed advanced block lit by a single quatrefoil light. The first floor contains windows matching those above the entrance, whilst the second floor has narrow lights. Each stage is articulated by moulded sill bands, with the second floor featuring an ashlar band beneath a dentilled cornice. The clock stage above displays four faces, each with an advanced central panel, the front carrying the clock face whilst flanking panels are fluted with moulded plinth and cornice. A moulded dentilled cornice crowns this stage, supporting a cupola with a tall finial above.

An advanced three-storey wing to the right features ground floor windows that are transomed and mullioned with four lights, the lower lights containing two panes with smaller upper lights that are small-paned. An entablature above is matched by mullioned windows of three lights, similarly detailed to those over the main entrance. The second floor has a plain sill band and a canted oriel window of three lights, with the gable apex jettied.

The advanced wing to the left has a slightly advanced two-storey bay window. The ground floor contains transomed and mullioned windows of five lights, with lower panes containing two panes and smaller upper lights with rounded heads; the first floor is similarly detailed. A two-storey wing set back at the right end serves as the caretaker's house, with a panelled door to the left and windows matching those over the main entrance. Other elevations are similarly fenestrated throughout.

Internally, the entrance is through a half-glazed doorway with flanking half-glazed panels and rectangular fanlights with margin panes above, the windows decorated with floriate Art Nouveau designs. The central hallway contains a dog-leg staircase with moulded rail on turned balusters; the newel post is battered with fluted sides, its top panels decorated with a carved flower beneath a moulded cap. A brass plaque in the hallway records the history of the institute. Panelled doors lead from the hallway to ground floor rooms—a hall and nursery to the right, and a library and reading room to the left.

The library and reading room are the most richly decorated spaces, divided by a glazed partition of Art Nouveau style floriate glasswork. The library retains original shelving, reading desks, rounded cupboards and the original library booking system behind the counter. The reading room features an ornate floriate tiled fireplace. Both rooms contain decorative plaster coving. Other rooms throughout the institute also contain tiled fireplaces; the ground floor hall is decorated with floriate designs, whilst other fireplaces are plainer. Moulded coving of simpler design than that in the library and reading room is found in other rooms as well.