Description

1.
5135 HIGH STREET
(North East Side)
Stony Stratford
------------------
Former St Anthony's
Franciscan Preparatory
School
[Part was previously
listed 12.10.54. as
Mr Fegan's Homes]
SP 7840 1/93

II GV

2.
Consists of a large chapel with wings extending from transepts. The south-east
transept wing meets a range at right angles to the street front of 4 houses and
forms a quadrangle.
Founded as St Paul's School in 1863 and enlarged since. From 1900 it became one
of 'Mr Fegan's Homes' for Orphans and was latterly a Franciscan Preparatory school.
Chapel: attributed to Goldie and Child [George Goldie] by Persuer circa 1860-70.
large abbatial-type church with uninterrupted tiled roof. Rock faced rubble with
brick quoins, dressings and modillion cornice. 4 bay nave with buttresses, transepts
and apsed chancel. Low narthex to south-vest. Pointed windows. Main emphasis
to south-west where a string course is stepped up and pointed to form a label over
a large rose containing smaller circles. The apse is unlit, decorated with blind
brick arcading in 2 series below the eaves, and 5 buttresses. The interior is
aisless with a barrel vault on corbelled corinthian columns.
The rest of the buildings are also tiled, and, except for the street front, of rock
faced rubble with brick dressings.
Gate Tower: to right of chapel. 3 storeys. Crow stepped gable above giant pointed
arch containing the entrance, a 3 light oriel on the 1st floor, and 2 pointed windows
on the 2nd floor.
Turret: to right of gate tower projects from building. Octagonal with belfry
stage and steeple. Statue of St Anthony over double doors to right.
Other buildings in the Quadrangle and to north-west of Chapel are of 2 storeys
with attics. Half hipped dormers to quadrangle, and having bargeboards and finials
to north-west. Mainly pointed windows, some cusped in the quad, mostly joined
under relieving arches. North-west wing of 7 bays separated by butresses. North-east
corner has a stair turret with belfry stage and pointed roof.
Street front: circa 1860s-80s incorporating earlier buildings. 4 three storey
houses, the end house to south-east to be described separately.
High pitched tiled roofs, with banded colours on house to north-west. Moulded
cornice. Irregular ashlar fronts, brick chimney stack. Moulded kneeler to verge
at north-west end. 2 gabled dormers on house at north-west end, and 3 on house
to south-east 4+2+3 windows, 2 light sashes except for 3 light windows on ground
and 1st floors to house to left of south-east end house. Windows set in moulded
reveals and have stone mullions and keyed heads. House to north-west has triangular
light and the next house a pointed arched light above doors. No door to 3rd house
from north-west. The dated sundial mentioned in the previous list now gone. Adjacent
to house at north-west end is an arched entrance of 2 orders with a panel above.
The end house to the south-east has been recently reduced by 1 window and rendered
with incised coursing. Low pitched slate roof. 2 windows, glazing bar sashes.
Triangular light over door. Brick built at rear.

The former St Anthony's Franciscan Preparatory School and the low street wall in
front form a separate group.

Listing NGR: SP7852240711

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