This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.
TQ 19 NW BUSHEY THE AVENUE (Northeast side) Bushey
6/68 International University 2.12.74 (formerly listed as Royal Masonic School)
GV II
Very large college group. Built 1899-1902 by Gordon, Lowther and Gunton as Royal Masonic Institute for Boys. Red brick, stone dressings. Slate roofs. Free Tudor Gothic style. Buildings ranged around a quadrangle: symmetrical front with central tower, square corner towers with radiating boarding blocks, hall to rear, SE side closed by cloister only. Front range: 2 storeys with 3 storey projecting ends and very tall 4 stage entrance clock tower. 'RMIB 1900' in shield in Tudor arched head to central entrance in porch. Diagonal buttresses. Pierced quatrefoils in parapet with end pinnacles. In lower stage of tower over porch a large window with a 4 centred arched head and panel tracery. Tall 2nd stage: 2 large 3-light traceried lancets to each face in ashlar with blind traceried heads. Rising full height of 2 lower stages are brick semi-octagonal clasping buttresses with ashlar ogee caps with crocketed finials. Third or clock stage and upper bell stage all ashlar. Clocks in 4 centred arched headed recesses with blind tracery and balustraded bases. Chamfered angles. Bell stage with 8 openings to each side and blind traceried angles. Leaded ogee shaped pavilion roof. Flanking tower are 2-storey ranges: 1-bay link to slightly projecting 4-bay ranges with 2-bay projecting ends. 6-light stone mullion and transom casements, chamfered surrounds, cusped and foiled heads to leaded upper lights.
Plinth. String courses. Stone coped parapets with stone pinnacles.
Octagonal turrets at angles with finialed ogee caps. Hipped roof with end and centre stacks with stone caps. 2 bays at ends have larger windows and a pair of cross windows in an attic. Ashlar gables with arms in relief. Diagonal stone shafts from ground floor to ridge. Linked at ends are 3 storey boarding blocks which are paired to form L's with 4 stage square towers at angles. Paired and single lancets in upper stage of towers. Octagonal corner turrets with finialed ogee caps. Crenellated parapet with pinnacles. 2 storey blocks flank towers in front of 3 storey blocks. To rear of front range facing quadrangle: a 2-storey canted and buttressed central projection. Ground floor cross windows with cusped heads, leaded panes. First floor arched headed windows.
Attached to rear are cloisters with 4 centred arches. Cloisters interrupted to left of main range or NW by a 2 storey block. Rear block has a 9-bay hall with large rectangular stone mullion and transom 6 light windows with leaded panes. Angled shafts rise to pinnacles over stone coped parapet with intermediate smaller pinnacles. Octagonal end piers with pinnacles. Steeply pitched roof with stone coped gable ends.
Flying buttresses to central 3 bays over cloisters. Gable ends of hall have large arched traceried windows. Canted bay to rear of hall. Linked to sides of hall are boarding blocks paired as at front with square towers. Further extensions and additions. Interior: groin vaulted Gothic entrance hall to imperial stair with gallery. (Pevsner 1977).
Listing NGR: TQ1291496170
This is part of the Series: IOE01/0791 IOE Records taken by V M Geduld; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England
© Mr V. M. Geduld. Source: Historic England Archive
This photograph was taken for the Images of England project
Photographer: Geduld, V. M.
Rights Holder: Geduld, V. M.
Lead, Slate, Stone, Ashlar, Brick, Victorian School, Education, Institute, University
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