Twyn County Junior School

Twyn County Junior School

This is a substantial early 20th-century school building comprising four ranges arranged around a central courtyard. The front elevation faces north and is dominated by a central block which is higher and projects slightly forward from the flanking ranges. The building is two storeys with a basement storey visible at the front, continuing as a plinth along the sides.

The external walls are constructed of coursed rock-faced stone with sandstone dressings including quoin strips, sill bands, impost bands and lintels. The basement storey features rusticated stonework. The roof is of slate with wide modillion eaves. A central cupola rises from the apex of the front range, surmounted by a globe and weather vane.

The front elevation is symmetrically composed, with the central block containing five windows flanked by four-window ranges with hipped roofs. The central entrance bay is of ashlar stone and is surrounded by a large open segmental pediment with a recessed tympanum bearing foliage in relief. Above the entrance, an inscribed tablet bears the shield of Glamorgan County Council and the date 1922.

The windows vary by storey. The upper storey windows are horned 8-over-12 pane sashes under flat lintels, with large keystones and triangular pediments supported on consoles. The middle storey contains 12-pane sashes with 8-pane opening lights, also with large keystones and segmental pediments supported on consoles. The basement storey has a segmental arched opening with a large keystone; the central and right-hand bays retain iron railing gates, while the left-hand bays have small windows set into the openings.

The flanking ranges to either side of the central block generally contain 24-pane horned sashes under flat lintels, with shorter windows to the basement storey. Some basement windows have been altered or converted to doors. The second bays from the centre on each flank contain two-storey porches, each with pilasters and an entablature. These porches contain planked double doors with overlights set under round arches with tympana, and small 6-pane windows above.

The west range spans twelve windows and contains a stack. A doorway in the second bay from the left has the inscription 'merched' above it. The windows are 24-pane sashes under flat heads. The east range is similar to the west range but has no windows at its far south end; some windows have been replaced or converted to doors.

The rear (south) range contains twelve windows and has projecting ends with hipped swept roofs. The east end has four windows, while the west end has a single window offset to the right. An impost band and eaves cornice run along this elevation.

The walls of the courtyard elevations are constructed of yellow brick. The central front block, which houses the hall and gymnasium, is five windows wide with modillion eaves. The upper storey windows are 8-over-12 pane sashes under flat sandstone lintels. The lower storey windows are 16-pane horned sashes with 8-pane opening lights above, set under segmental stone lintels.

A two-storey covered walkway provides access around the courtyard to the flanking ranges. This walkway is reached from staircases flanking the central entrance block and is constructed of narrow full-height iron columns supporting an almost flat lean-to roof. A closely spaced iron railing forms a gallery to the first floor. The upper storey of the walkway has multi-pane windows under flat sandstone lintels, partly above and partly below the lean-to roof. The lower storey has 16-pane horned sashes with 8-pane opening lights above, with half-lit doors at intervals leading into the classrooms.

The interior of the central block contains a hall on the first floor and a gymnasium below. The hall is accessed by double doors at each end and features an arched brace roof with boarded ceiling. Pilasters between the windows bear scrolled capitals. A dado rail runs around the room with brown glazed tiles fitted below. On the north wall is a marble roll of honour tablet with an arched head, commemorating the old boys of Twyn School who fell in the Great War. The stairwells are finished with brown glazed tiles.