Description

TL 4614 HIGH WYCH HIGH WYCH ROAD
(west side)
High Wych Village

16/12 Old School at High Wych
JMI School (NE block)
-

GV II

Village school. 1860-61 by G E Pritchett (1824-1912), opened
Saturday 13 April 1861 (Bishops Stortford Observer 20 April 1861
p 1). Elaborate knapped flint L-shaped Gothic church school with
steep gabled red tile roof, a little to SW of contemporary Gothic
church by same architect, and with similarly elaborate
schoolmaster's house at SE corner. Main range set back at right
angles to road. High single storey building with lower lean-to
narthex across E end and lean-to porch on N side under flatter
extension of main roof. A similar gabled range continues to S
with a large projecting porch under a flatter roof. Later C19
addition in angle of L-plan. E front to road has steep
bargeboarded gable and surmounted by small, square, diagonally
set, bell-turret with cusped timber bell stage and tall shingled
spire. Elongated triple lancet window with stone dressings and
dark brick alternating with stone voussoirs. Stone vent slot in
gable. Uncoursed knapped flint facing with raised squared flint
super arch over stepped heads of high lancet window. Lean-to
porch in form of narthex below window. Tile roof with flint
walls and stone dressings to plinth, paired small lancet window
on left and around 4-light timber chamfered mullioned window on
right, with fleur-de-lis finials to ferramenta. S gable engaged
with school house. N gable has moulded stone coping, and roll
moulded kneeler, stone quoins and plinth offset, but original red
brick dressings to inclined buttress. Pointed arched doorway in
end with 2 recessed orders and heavy plank door with elaborate
iron hinges. N side asymmetrical with 2 high triple lancet
gabled lucarne windows alternating with 2 tall tapered projecting
chimneys, and the lean-to porch. Uncoursed knapped flint with
limestone quoins, plinth offset, window dressings, moulded
copings, finials and kneelers to tall lucarne windows and porch.
Double line of yellow brick headers with flint between at sill
level of triple lancets, and of porch window. Flint chimneys
have stone quoins, plinth offset and capping but red brick
sloping sections and corbel stage alternate. Pointed porch door
as in E narthex. Small double window with trefoil sinking and
alternating stone and dark brick arch. Interior of main range a
single volume with 7-bay scissor rafter roof and tie rods. A
striking Gothic school building by Pritchett no doubt made
especially elaborate to complement his church of St James to N.
Land for schoolhouse and school conveyed to Minister and
Churchwardens in 1860 by Jones De'Ath (HRO). School intended to
be used for services until church opened, and used for tea at
consecration of church, 27 June 1861 (Bishops Stortford Observer,
20 April 1861 p 1, 29 June 1861 p 4: WEA III (1970) App II:
illustration of architect's perspective WEA II (1967) p 28).

Listing NGR: TL4632414098

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26579103

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.

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