Description

BARROW IN FURNESS

SD16NE ABBEY ROAD
708-1/5/15 (North West side)
06/05/76 College of Further Education annexe
including front railings and piers

GV II

Technical school with attached front railings, now college
annexe. 1900-1903. By Woodhouse and Willoughby. For Barrow
Corporation. Contractor W Gradwell and Co. Red brick with buff
terracotta banding and dressings; graduated slate roof.
Asymmetrical centre with gable of 2 storeys and attic on left
of 4-stage tower; reflected pair of 2-storey, 5-bay side wings
with railings across their fronts. Centre breaks forward: main
entrance on right has Gibbs surround under cartouche marked
'TECHNICAL SCHOOL'; flanking Ionic columns on plinths support
large brackets to segmentally-arched cornice.
Ground floor to left has moulded plinth and foundation stone
beneath 4 casements in shouldered architraves linked by
banding; double keystones; continuous cornice. 1st floor:
corbelled, balustraded balcony beneath large central window of
3 lights with 2 transoms, stained glass and keyed elliptical
arch; flanking this are Ionic pilasters with strapwork and
cross-windows with balustraded aprons.
Tower to right has spaced terracotta quoins and transomed
window. Entablature above the 3-light window has continuous
cornice. Attic storey: terracotta gable on left has 4-light
mullioned window flanked by pilasters and scrolled supporters;
semi-octagonal turret with obelisk finial on left; dentilled
cornice beneath round-arched pediment with Borough Arms in
tympanum. Banded and corniced stacks on ridge to rear. 3rd
stage of tower on right has banded diagonal pilasters set on
cartouches; 3-light mullioned window recessed beneath keyed
elliptical arch; cornice. Top stage: corner pedestals with
obelisks; octagonal cupola with round-arched openings within
Ionic colonnade; rounded dome with scroll finials.
Left sidewing: offset buttresses between bays; sill band to
mullioned and transomed windows having casements with glazing
bars and lintels with arched panels; central windows have
wider, round-arched middle light; continuous cornice. 1st
floor: terracotta bands, no windows; outer buttresses end in
scrolls, central 2 rise as Ionic pilasters to flank a
terracotta panel set on Lombard frieze with shells; panel
depicts The Arts: 6 robed females (one enthroned) with motto
'ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS'. Terracotta entablature with
modillioned cornice; '1901' on rain-water heads. Above the
panel is a round-arched gable with cartouche and obelisks.
Continuous skylight; coped gable on left has scrolled kneelers
and arched apex; terracotta ridges.
Right side wing is similar; its panel depicts aspects of
technology and has motto 'Labor Omnia Vincit'; no gable above
and no skylights. Left return: broad gable of side-wing then
set forward on left is a 1-storey block with terracotta
doorway marked 'STUDENTS ENTRANCE'.
INTERIOR: entrance lobby has mosaic floor and terracotta
friezes with cartouches, drapes and C-scrolls; ornate double
doors with panels below arched lights with cornices.
Stairhall: glazed brick and with arcading; stone staircase
with wrought-iron balustrade. Plaque on landing records
details of the opening on 25.8.1903.
Front railings: piers each have plinth, bands, cornice and
obelisk on scrolled supports; iron railings with square bars
and twin top rails. An extra panel beyond right side wing;
railings return to face Bath Street on left. Foundation stone
laid 26.5.1900 (for photograph of ceremony see Trescatheric).
(Trescatheric B: Barrow in Furness in Old Picture Postcards:
Netherlands: 1982-: 29).

Listing NGR: SD1971669537

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Nan Tait Centre at Wikipedia
• Wikidata IDs Q26580629 Q6962230

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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