Description
Archibald Simpson, 1837-1840, central block; E and W pavilions circa 1830; additions to S, W J Smith & Kelly, 1892; S wing and links to pavilions J A O Allan, 1902; later additions and alterations. 2-storey central block flanked by 2-storey basement and attic links and pavilions forming shallow U-plan courtyard; 4-storey block to S; 2-storey S wing linked by single storey corridor. Grey granite ashlar central block and links; remainder predominantly tooled coursed granite finely finished to margins. Ashlar base course and eaves courses to central block and links; rough-faced base course to remainder; eaves blocking course. Variety of strip quoins and long and short quoins; panelled and glazed timber doors.
CENTRAL BLOCK:
Archibald Simpson, 1837-1840.
N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 2-storey, 9-bay, symmetrical. 3 central bays slightly advanced with pilasters through ground and 1st floors supporting entablature and deep eaves blocking course stepped up to centre; round-arched architraved doorway with keystone motif reached by stone steps to centre of ground floor, 2-leaf panelled door with glazed upper panes, fanlight, window to centre of 1st floor above, regular fenestration to flanking bays to left and right; single bays flanking to left and right, regular fenestration to ground and 1st floors of each; 2 pedimented bays advanced to outer left and right, regular fenestration to ground and 1st floors of each.
E AND W ELEVATIONS: obscured by links to pavilions (see below).
S ELEVATION: enclosed by small courtyard; harled centre bays, flanked by single bays to left and right, single windows recessed in segmental arches to ground floor, single windows to 1st floor; pedimented bays flanking to left and right obscured by flat-roofed 20th century corridor links to S block (see below).
LINKS:
J A O Allan, 1902.
N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: 2-storey, basement and attic links to pavilions flanking central block to E and W. E Link: 6-bay; 5-bay assembly hall stepped forward to right, tall windows through ground and 1st floors set in recessed planes to each bay, sky-lights to attic floor; recessed bay adjoining central block to left, single storey flat-roofed addition to re-entrant angle at ground floor, single window to centre, architraved doorway to left return with 2-leaf panelled door, window to recessed 1st floor. W Link: 7-bay; 6-bay block stepped forward to left, regular fenestration to basement, ground and 1st floors of each bay, glazed doorway to outer left, skylight to centre of attic floor; recessed bay adjoining central block to right, single storey flat-roofed entrance to re-entrant angle to right at ground floor, single window to centre, architraved doorway to right return with 2-leaf panelled door, window to recessed 1st floor.
E AND W ELEVATIONS: obscured by adjoining central block and pavilions.
S ELEVATION: not seen 2000..
EAST PAVILION:
Circa 1830. 2-storey, basement and attic; 6-bay.
N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; 2-central bays slightly advanced, tetrastyle Greek Doric porch to ground floor, reached by stone steps, 2-leaf glazed timber door to centre of ground floor with glazed panels surrounding, 2 windows to 1st floor above; 2 bays flanking to left and right, regular fenestration to each; modern rectangular dormer and skylights to attic floor.
W ELEVATION: 4-bay; regular fenestration to ground and 1st floors, rectangular dormer to attic. Adjoins link to outer right.
S ELEVATION: not seen 2000.
E ELEVATION: 3-bay; regular fenestration to each floor; rectangular dormer to attic floor. Single storey flat-roofed entrance porch advanced to outer left.
WEST PAVILION:
Circa 1830. 2-storey, basement and attic; 3-bay.
N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: symmetrical; tetrastyle Tuscan porch to ground floor, reached by stone steps, 2-leaf glazed timber door to centre of ground floor with glazed panels surrounding, broad tripartite window to 1st floor above; regular fenestration to basement ground and 1st floors of flanking bays to left and right; 4-light rectangular dormer and skylight to attic floor.
W ELEVATION: 4-bay; regular fenestration to each floor, flat-roofed entrance advanced to outer right. Later addition and South Block adjoining (see below).
S ELEVATION: obscured by adjoining South Block.
E ELEVATION: 4-bay doorway to bay to left of ground floor, regular fenestration to remainder, broad skylight to attic floor. Adjoins link to outer left.
SOUTH BLOCK:
Predominantly Smith & Kelly, 1892; extended and remodelled 20th century. Adjoins central block to S. 3 and 4-storey.
N ELEVATION: linked to central block by 2 modern flat-roofed corridors, predominantly not seen 2000.
W AND E ELEVATIONS: obscured by 20th century additions; irregular fenestration.
S ELEVATION: 13-bay main block near-centre, Smith & Kelly; bay to centre of ground floor stepped forward, 3-light canted window surmounting to 1st floor, predominantly regular fenestration to remaining bays of ground, 1st and 2nd floors, except 2 bays to outer right, 2 windows enlarged to form 1; 4th floor largely remodelled, original bipartite window to centre; 3 broad windows flanking to left, 2 stepped back windows to outer right. 2 20th century stair bays flanking main block to left and right, tall vertical window to each, ground floor of bay to left obscured by adjoining corridor to S wing (see below). 3-storey, 4-bay block stepped down to outer right, regular fenestration; 4-storey, 8-bay block adjoining to left with regular fenestration to each floor, enclosed by stair tower to outer left tall vertical window; 3-storey 2-bay block to outer left, regular fenestration.
SOUTH WING:
J A O Allan, 1902; later additions and alterations. 2-storey 17-bay wing adjoining South Block with single storey corridor.
N ELEVATION: symmetrical; 3 central bays advanced with 4-light windows to centre of ground and 1st floors, flanked to left and right by regular fenestration; 7 bays flanking to left and right, regular fenestration to each floor, corridor linking wing to South Block to 4th bay from right; late 20th century addition to outer left.
W ELEVATION: asymmetrical; 2-bay block to left with 2 horizontal windows to ground floor, round-arched doorway to re-entrant angle to right, with window above; harled bay flanking to right; gymnasium and later additions recessed to right.
S ELEVATION: variety of additions and alterations adjoining boundary wall (see below).
E ELEVATION: predominantly obscured by late 20th century addition.
12-pane timber sash and case windows to central block; replacement lying-pane PVCu windows to remainder. Piended grey slate roofs with lead ridges. Cast-iron rainwater goods with decorative top hoppers. Variety of coped stacks and vents.
INTERIOR: geometrically-leaded stained-glass doorway to central entrance hall with glazed 2-leaf door, some cornicing survives; replacement doorway leads to inner hall, cornicing with decoratively scrolled brackets; round arched doorways to left and right. Remainder of interior remodelled, stairs and many of doors with circular glazed panel inset survive; 3-storey open lightwell to E pavilion; assembly hall to W link, stage to W, balcony to E, moulded ceiling.
GATEPIERS AND BOUNDARY WALLS: coped granite rubble boundary walls to S, square-plan coped gatepiers, some with shallow pyramidal caps; various infilled doorways.