Building record 1160/482/1 - Kingsthorpe Grove Lower School & Attached Front Walls & Gateways

A school constructed in 1905 by Law and Harris. The school is built in a simplified Flemish rennaisssance style, comprising red brick with moulded terracotta dressings and plain tile roofs with many coped gables and finials and various brick stacks.

{1} School. 1905. By Law and Harris. Red brick with moulded terracotta dressings. Plain tile roofs with many coped gables and finials and various brick stacks. Simplified Flemish renaissance style. Plan is symmetrical about a central hall with wings to either side and then Nursery Unit to left linked by wall and ornamental gateway. Mostly single storey. Long façade has fenestration of glazing bar sashes. Hall has mullion and transom windows with leaded lights containing art nouveau style stained glass. Nursery Unit to the left is in the same style. Extending to the right of the main range is another ornamental gateway and wall.
INTERIOR. Nursery Unit has central hall with surrounding classrooms leading off which retain original fireplaces. Hall has dado tiling and in end windows art nouveau style stained glass. The main range has a larger central hall with more elaborate stained glass and corridors leading from it with ranges of classrooms. Corridors have dado tiling and the classrooms original fireplaces. Slightly detached to the right and forming a group is the Cookery Centre (qv). The whole school is a very good example of the period, remaining virtually intact and having many fine details.

{3} Article about plans to cover stained glass windows on front elevation with protective glazing to prevent any further damage by vandals.

{4} Art Nouveau drainpipes and patterned glass with its large central gabled projection.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/10016 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H14 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN1000.

<3> Bontoft, W., 2010, Years Of Attacks Damage Windows, (checked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN107643.

<4> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 496 (Book). SNN111989.

Record last edited

Feb 4 2021 10:18AM