NE Quadrangle at Howell's School, Denbigh, Denbighshire

Entry Name: NE Quadrangle at Howell's School

Listing Date: 19 February 2001

Last Amended: 19 February 2001

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 24779

Building Class: Education

ID on this website: 300024779

Location: Linked to the main school building immediately adjacent to the great hall.

County: Denbighshire

Community: Denbigh (Dinbych)

Community: Denbigh

Built-Up Area: Denbigh

Traditional County: Denbighshire

Tagged with: School building

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History

Howells’s School (with its sister foundation in Llandaff) owes its origins to a bequest made by Thomas Howell, d1540. The Drapers Company of London administered the bequest until 1818, when a Charity Commission Enquiry was initiated. An eventual consequence of this Enquiry was the passage of an Act in 1846, requiring the Drapers’ Company to pay the bequest: It was intended that building would commence in the spring of 1857, and plans were apparently drawn up by Decimus Burton of London. In fact, building work took place 1858-9, the school opened in 1860, and the architect was Herbert Williams. This original building was successively extended, first by a NE wing of 1914 (the basis of this NE quadrangle), and then by symmetrical wings advanced from the original building to its NW (entrance) front, in 1929-30. The NW range of this quadrangle, of 1914, was designed by Heaton Commyn and Lesley Moore. The SE parallel range may be a still-later addition. There have been minor subsequent changes, but the building retains a strong collegiate character overall, unified by the use throughout of collegiate Tudor gothic styles.

Exterior

Comprises two principal ranges (Science Block to NW and parallel Drapers Wing to SE) linked by full-height SW wing, and lower NE range.

NW range: 3-storeyed range in gothic of elegant simplicity: smooth render with stone dressings and steep slate roof with ridge cresting recessed behind parapet. Long range between advanced outer gables, each with full-height canted bay window with mullioned lights. Long range has storeys stepped back, thus breaking up its height when viewed from the NW: ground floor has outer Tudor arched doorways then alternating paired 2 and 5-light mullioned and transomed windows; pierced parapet; first floor has similar windows with continuous hood mould, and plain parapet; recessed attic storey with simple 2-light mullioned windows. 3x5-light mullioned and transomed windows in gable return to NE. SW return has paired 5-light windows then an irregular 2-window range linking to a 4-bay cross wing closing the quadrangle on this SW side: this has small paned timber mullioned and transomed windows, and some sashes.

SE range: remains gothic in character, though with classical simplicity. Rendered with stone dressings and banded slate roof. 2 storeyed over stone basement. Symmetrical elevation to SE in which outer gables flank central 6-window range: composite windows formed as 12-pane sashes with 3 fixed lights above; this arrangement followed in the wider central windows of the tripartite arrangement in the outer gables. Lower 3-window range set-back links this block to the (possibly later) range to the right; a severe neo-Georgian, 3 storeyed, 1-5-1 bays with 8 and 12-pane sash windows; minimal detail of string course over ground floor and very plain cornice. Parapet to flat roof. An apparently contemporary 2-storeyed flat-roofed range links this to the rear of the Science Block, thus forming a quadrangle.

Interior

Not inspected on resurvey.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as an integral part of the complex at Howell’s School, and as elegant C20 interpretations of the collegiate gothic style which gives the main school buildings their stylistic integrity.

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.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Main Building at Howells School
Located immediately NE of the castle, the School is approached via the continuation of Peake’s Lane SW of Park Street.
II Church of St David
Immediately east of Howell’s School in a small churchyard alongside the lane.
II Saint Patrick’s Dormitory Block at Howell's School
The right-hand building in a group of 3 overlooking the main school buildings from rising ground to the NW. Approached by steep flight of steps which are the central axis of a formal stepped garden.
II Saint Andrew’s Dormitory Block at Howell's School
The central building in a group of 3 overlooking the main school buildings from rising ground to the NW. Approached by steep flight of steps which are the central axis of a formal stepped garden.
II Saint George’s Dormitory Block at Howell's School
The left hand building in a group of 3 overlooking the main school building from rising ground to the NW, and approached by steep flights of stairs as the central axis in a formal stepped garden.
II 17, Park Street, Denbigh, CLWYD, LL16 3DD
On the NE corner of the lane which leads to Howell's School.
II 15, Park Street, Denbigh, LL16 3DB
On the SE side of Park Street, immediately west of the southerly continuation of Peake’s Lane which forms the main access to Howell’s School.
II 13, Park Street, Denbigh, CLWYD, LL16 3DB
On the SE side of Park Street, immediately west of the southerly continuation of Peake’s Lane which forms the main access to Howell’s School.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

NE Quadrangle at Howell's School

A Grade II Listed Building in Denbigh, Denbighshire

Coordinates