Building record 4709/5/1 - The School & School House, Courteenhall

Late 17th century grammar school built under the will of Sir Samuel Jones, lord of the manor who died in 1672. The limestone building ceased to be a school in c1870 and became the village institute before being converted to a dwelling.

{1} School and school-house, now village hall and house. Dated 1680 extended 1688, with C20 alterations and additions. Coursed squared limestone with ironstone dressings, hipped plain-tile roof to school, stone ridge and end stacks to school house. T plan. 1-storey-and-attic school, 2-storey-and-attic school-house. School-room has large central 6-panel double-leaf doors to entrance end with eared moulded stone surround, pulvinated frieze and broken segmental pediment, framing limestone cartouche with coat of arms of founder. Horizontal oval limestone panel above with moulded stone surround and Latin inscription beginning HOC/MUSARUM DOMICILIUM/, commemorating foundation of school by Sir Samuel Jones, for the education of neighbouring youth up to 4 miles around and built by his executors Henry Edmonds and Francis Crane 1680. 3 leaded cross windows to right side with eared moulded stone surrounds. Similar windows to far end and to left side far end. Chamfered plinth and quoins, wood modillion leaves and small roof dormer to front end, larger hipped roof dormers to right side. Former schoolmaster's house attached to middle of left side has central 6-panel door with moulded wood surround, overlight and C20 columned porch. Door flanked by C20 cross windows with ironstone jambs and stone lintels. 6-pane sash windows to first floor with stone lintels. Chamfered plinth, ironstone eaves band, bracketed wood eaves and two hipped roof dormers. Former single-storey extension to left, buit by first master Robert Ashbridge in 1688, breaks forward and has 6-panel double-leaf doors, and moulded stone surround with pulvinated frieze. Datestone to right recording construction. Plaque above door recording restoration in 1923. Raised late C20 to 2 storeys and incorporated in school-house accommodation. Formerly an infant school; believed to have been built to accommodate usher. Interior: schoolroom has complete set of original benches and desks ranged round walls including masters desk. School house has two open fireplaces with stop-chamfered bressumers, one with salt cupboard, and stop-chamfered spine beams. Fine central open well staircase from ground floor to attic with twisted balusters; panelled risers to first floor flights. Corner fireplace in first floor room with stop-chamfered wood lintel and cast-iron grate of c.1800. Attic rooms have fireplaces with stop-chamfered wood lintels and access to large attic over schoolroom said to have been used originally as dormitory. Stone flagged hall. Fitted cupboard and stone cellar. Door to cellar has wrought-iron latch and hinges. Other old doors. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, p166; Country Life: August 12th 1939, p148)

{4} About 250m west of the hall is the former Free Grammar School (listed grade II*) with adjoining school house, built c 1680 under the will of Sir Samuel Jones. It is now used as the village hall, with part still in residential use. A large new garden with formal elements was laid out in the 1990s on its south side.

{5} Internal and external photos taken during architect's inspection of the floors of the building, prior to repair.

{6} About 250m west of the hall is the former Free Grammar School (listed grade II*) with adjoining school house, built c 1680 under the will of Sir Samuel Jones. It is now used as the village hall, with part still in residential use. A large new garden with formal elements was laid out in the 1990s on its south side.

{7} Courteenhall School..of 1680, retains its large schoolroom lined with long desks for the boys on either side, and at one end is a pulpit-like desk for the master.

{8} Undated photo, also photo dated 07/01/1994.

{9, 10} The Grammar School, Courteenhall was built under the will of Sir Samuel Jones, lord of the manor, who died in 1672. It is a beautiful limestone building, with ironstone quoins, doorways, and architraves to the windows, and a high-pitched red tiled roof. The building, now the village institute, was last used as a school 60 years ago.

{11} The building although very pleasant is not outstanding, it is now used as a dwelling house. See photograph.

{13} Four photos of interior of building dated 24.11.1992;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/42 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.166 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<5> Farrar, V., 1991, Report of Findings and Recommendations After Inspection of the Floors to Main School Room Building at The Old Grammar School, Courteenhall, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN108811.

<6> English Heritage, 1991, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1991, Northamptonshire), (checked) (Report). SNN1167.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Courteenhall (Photographs). SNN112099.

<9> Harwood, E, 2010, England's Schools: History, Architecture and Adaptation, p. 7 (Book). SNN111982.

<10> Salzman L.F.(ed), 1937, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p. 242 (Series). SNN100371.

<10> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), p. 209 (Journal). SNN59424.

<11> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 8-MAY-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<12> Historic England, Undated, OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL, COURTEENHALL, BF085085 (Archive). SNN116094.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Courteenhall (Photographs). SNN112099.

Record last edited

May 21 2025 12:51PM