Description

J Austen Laird, architect, 1929-1931, with minor later alterations, Robert W K C Rogerson, 1960. Queen Anne style school, in E-suntrap-plan, comprised of 2-storey, piend-roofed entrance block, linked by flat-roofed single storey bays to splayed, single storey, gabled classroom ranges bounding playground; tall gabled school hall projecting from main block to playground, at centre rear. Brick with red sandstone ashlar dressings; brick base course; ashlar eaves course. Small-pane glazing patterns in sash and case and top-hopper windows. Grey slates.

ENTRANCE BLOCK: 2-storey, 3-bay, rectangular plan block on corner site and falling ground, with cornice, banded quoins and slightly red sandstone ashlar doorpiece with broken segmental pediment; moulded door surround with ashlar panel above; 2-leaf panelled doors. Moulded architrave to keystoned 1st floor window; blocking course raised behind pediment and scroll-flanked. Tripartite windows to each floor of outer bays, red sandstone mullions and lintels; regrettably flush glazing. 2-bay return elevations each with linking bay adjoined towards rear, window towards entrance elevation and 2 1st floor windows. Banded and corniced brick end stacks.

LINKING BAYS: single storey with ashlar parapet. Convex entrance bays flanking main block (formerly to Girls and Boys classroom wings respectively), with segmentally pedimented entrance bays, broadly moulded and keystoned ashlar door surrounds and panel in parapet above; 1 door blocked as window, 1 blocked completely. 4-bay rectangular plan blocks with continuous parapet, flanking and linked to classroom ranges.

CLASSROOM RANGES: 6 bays to each roadside elevation with banded brick pilasters dividing and 2 bipartite windows to each bay (brick-mullioned). Playground elevation with former open corridors altered by Rogerson, 1960, to enclose form with new reinforced concrete columns, clerestorey lights retained, with 2 groups of 3, 2-pane lights to each bay.

HALL: tall 5-bay rectangular-plan, gabled school hall projecting into playground from rear elevation of main block at centre; high windows to each bay at sides, and with broad doors below in outer bays. Square section stalk adjoined to end gable, flanked by upper windows and with flat-roofed heating chamber and WC facilities projecting at ground.

Long gabled and louvred ventilator to hall roof. Covered play area to playground end.

JANITOR'S HOUSE, 24 KIPPEN STREET: single storey and attic, square-plan, Queen Anne style gate lodge. Brick; base course, banded quoins.

Piended roof, slate-hung dormers. Doorway with corniced and consoled timber porch-canopy, flanked by narrow windows; dormer above. 2-bay side elevations with windows at ground and dormers above, blocked door to playground elevation. Rear elevation with single window at centre and dormer above. Small-pane and plate glass sash and case windows. Overhanging eaves; grey slates to pyramidal roof. Corniced and banded brick stack at centre.

GATEPIERS, WALLS AND RAILINGS: banded brick gatepiers with cream ashlar pyramidal caps. Low brick retaining wall with ashlar coping, bearing wrought-iron railings with decorative panels. Wrought-iron gate.

GATEPIERS, BOUNDARY WALLS AND RAILINGS: 3 pairs of banded brick gatepiers with ashlar pyramidal caps. Low brick boundary walls with ashlar coping and wrought-iron railings with decorative panels; gates detailed similarly. Coped brick parapet to ashlar steps leacing to main entrance, and terraced walls flanking.

Statement of Interest

Built originally as Balmore School, for Education Authority of Glasgow. A Smart explains the "E-plan" was designed to maximise the supply of sunlight and ventilation. The school now serves the partially deaf.

The Nesfieldian style chosen was appropriate for such a lodge house and ensured a uniform style for the school. Outstandingly well designed and detailed school of its date.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17813262

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)