Description

TORQUAY

SX9163 ROCK ROAD
885-1/17/224 (West side)
Abbey Hall for the Disabled

GV II

School, now used as hall. 1853 (Ellis, p.456). Designed by
Edward Appleton (Wilson). Local grey limestone, brought to
course with Bathstone ashlar and hammer-dressed grey limestone
dressings; hipped slate roof. Italianate style.
PLAN: Rectangular on plan.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. The Rock Road elevation has a 5-window
front with deep boxed eaves and projecting sill bands.
Ground-floor sill band originally broken by 2 round-headed
doorways at each end with proud arches and recessed 2-leaf
door to the left, right-hand doorway blocked. 5 first-floor
round-headed windows with proud arches and a platband at the
springing of the arches. Windows glazed with 12-pane sashes
with margin panes and radial glazing bars. Upper tier of
windows high under the eaves are paired round-headed windows
with a similar platband to the ground floor which acts as a
capital for the central mullion. The left return has 3 similar
second-floor windows.
The right return has a central round-headed doorway which
breaks the sill band below 2 outer round-headed first-floor
windows glazed with 12-pane sashes with margin panes and
radial glazing bars. Similar central window with 2 over 3-pane
sash. 3 second-floor windows matching those on the Rock Road
elevation.
INTERIOR: Not inspected but may retain features of interest.
HISTORY: The school was established as the British School in
1853, for boys and infants and conducted by "managers in
premises adjoining" (Ellis, p.456). Attribution to Appleton by
Wilson (ex info). Creates a good pair with the Old Town Hall.
(Ellis CA: An Historical Survey of Torquay, 2nd edition:
1930-: P.456).

Listing NGR: SX9167463889

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26512997

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

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  For the Record