Description

FARRINGDON CHURCH ROAD
SU 73 NW

2/42 Farringdon C of E primary
school and village hall

GV II

School and village hall, within one building. 1870-1900. Red brick in English
bond, with much terra-cotta surface ornament, with a tile roof. This structure
was built during a 30 year period by the Rev. T H Massey (rector for 62 years),
with the help of 2 or 3 craftsmen. It is locally known as Massey's Folly,
a name which parallels the very unusual design; although its intended (but
unachieved) function remains obscure, the building was taken over in 1925,
and later modified, for its present purpose. Of 2 storeys, with an attic in
part, the south elevation has a main unit (village hall) of 3 upper bays with a
tower at its west end; a lower unit west of the tower stands forward of 2
further units of similar size, the westernmost being turned south-west, to fit
the curve in Church Road. This general 2-storeyed theme has had the upper
floor removed, to form the village hall and 3 classrooms to its west. The
north elevation has 2 unequal towers, the taller centred on the village hall,
and the lower giving access to the school. The elevations have many features
typical of English Jacobean, but the treatment is elaborate in form, and
fantastic with enrichment of terra-cotta decoration (representing an illustrated
catalogue of the period 1873-80). The 3 unequal towers have arched and square
openings, some with windows but many filled as decorative panels, bands at floor
and impost levels, and a series of bands and projections at parapet level. The
main gables are semi-circular, and completely filled with dog-tooth ornament.
The roadside elevation has exaggerated hoodmoulds, mostly triple windows, applied
ornamental panels, and a parapet with recessed crosses.

Listing NGR: SU7132335379

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Farringdon Church Of England Primary School And Village Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26623285

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

• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
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  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)