Description

CORBY GLEN BOURNE ROAD
SK 9824-9924 (north side)

14/74 Willoughby Memorial
Library and Art
6.5.56 Gallery (formerly
listed as Old
School)

I

Incorrectly shown on OS map as School. Former school, now
Library and Art Gallery. Founded 1669, constructed 1673,
extended 1691, with minor C18 alterations, restored in 1965.
Ashlar and squared limestone rubble. Steeply pitched sprocketed
hipped Collyweston slate roof with lead dressings and finials.
Central 4 shafted ashlar ridge stack with moulded base and
cornices. Rectangular schoolroom with later master's house to
rear right. Single storey with attics and basement, 5 bay front.
Rusticated quoins, chamfered plinth, pulvinated frieze, moulded
eaves. On the frieze the inscription "CAROLUS READ GENEROSUS
HANC SCHOLAM DIS... GNATAM FUNAVIT ANNO DOMINI 1673" Projecting
2 storey pedimented porch dated 1691 and inscribed with Robert
Kirke and Hugh Wade, Wardens. First floor band, pulvinated
frieze. Central panelled double doors in eared surround and
keyblock, with pulvinated frieze supporting a broken triangular
pediment containing a shield of arms. To first floor, lighting
the parvise, a keyed oculus and in the pediment a circular
window. To the right hand side at basement level is a single 3
light mullioned window. The porch is flanked by pairs of cross
mullioned leaded casements with moulded architraves. The 2 light
leaded casement dormers have hipped roofs and lead cheeks. The
rear has a coved cornice and doorway with plain chamfered
surround and cornice, inscribed on the lintel "Incredere ut
proficias". To right are 2 cross mullioned windows and to left a
C18 glazing bar sash in plain ashlar surround with raised
keyblock. The added rear wing is of coursed square rubble with
ashlar quoins, Collyweston slate roof, raised stone coped gable
and axial ashlar stack. The interior retains a half glazed
doorway to the original school room with pulvinated frieze and
cornice in moulded architrave. The girders are moulded with
large shield plaque stops. The cellar has a large fireplace with
chamfered arched head and deeply chamfered beams. On the first
floor the octagonal ashlar stack has 2 chamfered and stopped
fireplace surrounds. The schoolmaster's accommodation has a
spiral staircase and simply chamfered beams. Charles Read of
Folkingham left a sum of money for the establishment of free
grammar schools at Corby and Tuxford in Nottinghamshire.
Restored in 1965 by the Earl of Ancater and turned into a Library
and Art Gallery as a memorial to his only son, Timothy, who was
drowned at sea. Source: Steel, 1979.

Listing NGR: SK9997524876

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Willoughby Memorial Gallery official website
• Wikidata Q17531445

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  For the Record