Block of Buildings at Christ College to SE of School Chapel, Brecon, Powys

History

The site of the former Dominican Friary of St Nicholas became a public school in 1853. A competition for its rebuilding was held in 1859. The library was built by JP Seddon, architect, in 1861, and the School House by Prichard and Seddon about the same time. Prichard and Seddon also restored the Large Hall (originally the C13 Infirmary), and the C14 Small Hall (possibly originally the Guest Hall). Schoolrooms opposite the N door were added by JB Fowler in 1880-82.

Exterior

School House: stone with slate roofs; chimney stacks lost. At right angles to the nave of the former Friary Church there is a two storey wing containing library and ground floor common rooms. Long walls of upper floor pierced by lancet windows to match the school chapel. East elevation divided by buttresses into four sections, each section with 3 lancet lights on first floor and 3 trefoil-headed lights on ground floor. Similar W rear elevation with projection at S end. At S end of E elevation there is a lower wing projecting forward, first bay with a paired trefoil headed window on first floor surmounted by a small gable lit by a quatrefoil light. A further 2 bay wing, again lower, to S; right-hand bay with a canted 2-storey bay window of four cusped headed lights with transoms and corbels and with a parapet behind; left hand bay with a transom three-light window above with cusped heads to upper lights and single light windows on ground floor, each with a cusped head.
The main wing of School House forms a right angle with Library and Common Room wing. North elevation of two storeys and attic, four bays. Quoins and bands in stone of contrasting colour; window openings with voussoirs of stone alternately in contrasting colour. In each outer bay there is a gable pierced by a cinquefoil light to the attic storey with a window of 3 trefoil-headed lights immediately below, partly in roof space. A window of 3 trefoil-headed lights in each outer bay on the first floor; a window of 3 flat-headed lights in each outer ground floor bay. Left-hand inner bay with a window of 2 trefoil-headed lights on the first floor and a window of two flat-headed lights on the ground floor. Right-hand inner bay has a tall mullion and transom staircase window and, at ground level, an arched doorway.
The E gable is pierced by a cinquefoil light with ashlar architrave with pointed head; against the lower part of the wall there is a two-storey, one-bay lean-to wing and, against this, the semi-octagonal former kitchen. This has a semi-octagonal hipped slate roof with cupola. North and east facets each lit by a window of 2 trefoil-headed lights with cinquefoil light over. A wing at right angles on N-S axis comprises has the main entrance to the School House at north end. This section of the School House is of two storeys and attic, two bays. Windows of trefoil headed lights with columned mullions. Two gables, each pierced by an attic window of two lights with two two-light windows and a single light window, to left hand, on first floor, on the ground floor, a single light window to the left hand, a slight of steps in the middle leading up to a pointed arched doorway with double doors and dripstone and, to the right hand, a window of two flat-arched lights. To L, a block projects forward with gable facing N and with an E elevation of two bays, also with one gable. Windows with trefoil or flat-headed lights and columned mullions. Slightly battered plinths. South elevation of three bays with wide gable over two W bays. Window of trefoil and flat-arched lights with columned mullion. Doorway in middle.
The Main Dining Hall to the L incorporates medieval structures and was restored and partly rebuilt by Pritchard and Seddon (covered for repairs at time of inspection). One storey with stone walls. Semi-octagonal apse of three facets at east end with buttressing; mullion and transom windows with trefoil heads to lights. South wall pierced by three mullion and transom windows each of two cusped headed lights. Adjacent is the Old Library or smaller dining room comprising a lofty one storey wing of medieval origin with walls of old masonry, restored by Pritchard and Seddon in 1861-4. Gable pierced by double trefoil window with a small window to left hand below; pointed headed doorway in centre. West elevation of three bays each with a window of two trefoil headed lights with quatrefoil over. At the S end of the old Library Wing there is a smaller wing with roof on N- South axis; S gable end wall pierced by a window of two trefoil headed lights, surmounted by a quatrefoil, on first floor, and, on ground floor by a three-light modern window to left hand and pointed doorway to right hand. North-east return elevation faced with old stone rubble; external stack to R with tall single-light window above a small 2-light window below.

Interior

Four bay arched braced collar roof with cusped wind braces. Fireplace in Gothic style.

Reasons for Listing

Graded II* as building retaining medieval structure, and strongly-designed C19 Gothic work, by prominent architects. The Chapel and remains of the nave of the former Friary at Christ College and the block of buildings at Christ College to the South-east of the College Chapel have mutual Group Value.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.