Building record 4232/4/1 - The Grammar School and Hospital, High Street

Clipston School and Hospital, built 1668-73. The front with its short wings and broad flat central projection is in its original state although the interior and back were altered in 1926. A WW2 era wall painting in the school was created by American airmen at Harrington Airfield, disassembled and then reassembled at the school.

{1} School and hospital, now school. Datestone 1667. By Matthew Cole of Clipston. Squared coursed lias with C20 plain tiled roof. E-shaped plan, 2 storeys with attic. The whole comprises a 7-window range. The central gable projects slightly and is larger than those flanking. Central plank and braced door under 4-centred moulded stone head with moulded cornice above is flanked by two 2-light stone mullioned with transomed windows with leaded lights, similar 4-light windows above entrance with 3-light mullion to attic above. The remaining windows are 2-light stone mullions at attic level in gables. There are two secondary entrances to the return walls of the flanking wings which have moulded stone surrounds with 4-centred arch heads. Ashlar gable parapets and kneelers, single handed clock with octagonal moulded stone surround in centre gable. Inscription above main entrance "This free Grammar School and Hospital were built and endowed by Sir George Buswell, Bart, AD.1667." Side and rear elevations similar, C20 extension to rear. Interior and rear elevations altered in 1926. Interior retains original C17 staircase. Some plank doors and stopped chamfered ceiling beams. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire p.151)

{3} Clipston School (Grade II) built 1667 according to date stone. Original use as grammar school and hospital. Masonry to chimney at rear had begun to fail so repairs carried out. No formal consent as long as the Conservation Section were consulted on all aspects of refurbishment. Original chimney stack dismantled and reconstructed using much of the original iron stained limestone (Weldon type) masonry as possible. Replacment stones and new copings (at chimney tops), string courses and occasional quern stones in Clipston stone.

{4} Slide and photographic record of repair work of the school - August 1997 -February 1998

{5} Existing chimney stack - plan and elevations

{6} Paint on timber board; associated with Harrington airfield

{7} The wall painting was discovered hanging in the school's Jacobean hallway during the course of a site visit. According to information on the bottom left hand corner, the painting was created by American airmen at Harrington Airfield, disassembled and then reassembled at the school.
The painting (some 6'x 10') shows, in the centre, a very striking image of a figure with wings akin to an angel. This figure is dressed only in a loin cloth and flying helmet(!) and is holding forth a machine gun.
Beneath the angel to the left are three men with caps and kit bags walking from a structure towards a line of ten books, supported by airmen bookends, that form the bottom foreground of the picture. The man at the front is looking up towards the angel. The spines of the line of books have titles written on them which are (from left to right): Weapons, Oxygen, Sighting, Turrets, Hard Work, Night Vision, Common Sense, Experience, Physical Fitness, Coordination. Walking away from the books, towards a hangar and control tower(?), are two figures dressed in airmen’s flying leathers (perhaps indicative that not everyone successfully completes training).
Behind the angel seem to be the runways of an airfield with, flying above, the silhouettes of what appear to be Liberator style aircraft. On the horizon there appears to be either a very dramatic sunset or perhaps a large explosion (the result of action behind enemy lines"). To the right of this there is the silhouette of a village with a church spire evident, this may be a representation of Clipston.
The painting is created in matt greys, blue/greens and browns. It is speculated that many of the paints intended original purpose had been for camouflage(?).
The feelings of the airmen towards Clipston are evident in the lines painted underneath the books at the very bottom of the picture: "To the people of Clipston: that you may not forget the American Airmen who will always carry in their hearts fond memories of happy hours spent in the friendliest village in the world." These lines end with the name "P. C. Sanders Jr Sgt USAAF 1945". According to a local contact P. C. Sanders worked as an art teacher in Arizona after the war and is still alive although thought to be in poor health.

{10} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 15/15 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Ellison, M., 1998, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49117.

<4> Ellison, M., 1998, Clipston Primary School - Repairs to Chimney, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN51646.

<5> Peter Pickering Chartered Surveyors, 1997, Existing Chimney Stack at Clipston School, (unchecked) (Plan). SNN44026.

<6> Ellison, M., 1998, Defence of Britain Project Site Report Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN109741.

<7> Ellison, M., 1998, Clipston Primary School: World War II Wall Painting Hanging In School Hallway, (checked) (Note). SNN109742.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.151 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> Cadman G., 2014, 20th Century Military Archaeology in Northamptonshire: Logs 1, 2 & 3, p.4 (unchecked) (Report). SNN104868.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Clipston (Photographs). SNN112086.

<11> PEVSNER N., 1961, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, P.152 (Series). SNN113374.

<12> Quinnell, N V, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, 21/Aug (Note). SNN114729.

<13> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, 10/Feb (Note). SNN111452.

Record last edited

Mar 5 2024 9:14AM