History in Structure

Gadlys Higher Standard School (Original Ranges only)

A Grade II Listed Building in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taff

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.7153 / 51°42'54"N

Longitude: -3.4498 / 3°26'59"W

OS Eastings: 299935

OS Northings: 202832

OS Grid: SN999028

Mapcode National: GBR HK.34ZD

Mapcode Global: VH6D3.542X

Plus Code: 9C3RPH82+43

Entry Name: Gadlys Higher Standard School (Original Ranges only)

Listing Date: 10 January 1991

Last Amended: 10 January 1991

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 10847

Building Class: Education

ID on this website: 300010847

Location: Below the road (set back behind playground). At the southern end of the Gadlys area of town. Site is bordered by high rubble revetment wall.

County: Rhondda Cynon Taff

Community: Aberdare (Aberdâr)

Community: Aberdare East

Built-Up Area: Aberdare

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: School building

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Aberdare

History

Opened 7th October l907. Designed by Thomas Roderick, Architect of Aberdare and erected by Messrs Wills and Company, Ystrad. Cost úl4,000. At the opening ceremony it was declared to be "the finest piece of architecture in Aberdare".

Exterior

Free Jacobethan style with eastern influences to the dome; symmetrical school building, boys to left and girls to right - the two halves designed to be entirely self contained; as a result the composition lacks a main entrance. 1,2 and 3 storeys stepping down to either end. Dark, coursed and bull-nosed local stone with 'Red Wilderness' dressings including quoins, sill bands, plinth band and gable parapets with conical finials; slate roofs. The middle section is the tallest and is advanced including an octagonal tower with swept roof octagonal cupola crowned by iron weathervane. Blind roundel to front face; date plaque with rounded top below. Camber headed horned sash windows with voussoirs and keystones, 2-windows to the front on both floors. Lean-tos at either side with kneelers and side doors. The middle section is flanked by 3-bay blocks, the centres of which are set back; 3 Jacobethan type gables to each side, the central gables (to the Boys and Girls Halls) being taller. 3 blind arched openings to the upper parts of these gables; the halls have tall 3-light windows with labels and flanking circular windows; small pane glazing. 2 camber headed windows to flanking gables with horned l2-pane sashes; the inner of these gables have the boys and girls cambered doors with small pane tympani. The lines of these gables are continued downwards by set back lean-tos.
Twin gables to the ends with similar detail and glazing. Gables also to the taller hall ranges which have split thermal windows. U-shaped yard to centre rear.
Internally the main halls are bordered by classrooms with glazed sides so that the headmaster and headmistress could watch classes in progress. The outside windows are set high so that the children cannot look out.

Reference: Aberdare Leader, 12th October 1907, p.3.

Interior

Classroom interiors have canted boarded ceilings with circular ventilators.

External Links

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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