Former Roman Catholic School of St Mary

Summary

A former Roman Catholic school, built around 1840 to the designs of Weightman and Hadfield for the 12th Duke of Norfolk. Extensions to the rear are excluded from the listing.

Reasons for Designation

The former Roman Catholic School of St Mary is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as an interesting example of an 1840s Roman Catholic school by known architects;
* for the quality of its design and detailing.

Historic interest:

* as a surviving Roman Catholic school from the 1840s.

Group value:

* with the associated Roman Catholic Church of St Mary and presbytery.

History

In the C19 the Dukes of Norfolk provided a small chapel and priest’s house adapted from an existing building at Sandhill Dyke for the Catholic families of Worksop to say Mass. The 12th Duke sold Worksop Manor and its grounds in 1838 and, though not Catholic himself, he paid for a new church, presbytery, and school to be constructed for the Catholic community.

The buildings were constructed between 1838 and 1840. They were designed by J G Weightman and M E Hadfield, who formed an architectural partnership based in Sheffield from 1838 to 1858 and between them designed several Roman Catholic churches.

The school was built to the north-east of the church and presbytery in 1840. It initially had a T-shaped plan, featuring a short projecting range to the principal, west front. By the late C19 a detached building had been built in the centre of the courtyard to the east of the school. This was extended further to the south by 1922. By 1960 a single-storey extension infilled the north side of the yard and connected the mid and late C19 buildings. These extensions are not included in the listing.

By the early-C21 the school had closed. The original part of the school came to be used as a church hall, and the later extensions were adapted for use as office space.

Details

A former Roman Catholic school, built around 1840 to the designs of Weightman and Hadfield for the 12th Duke of Norfolk. Extensions to the rear are excluded from the listing.

MATERIALS: the mid-C19 building is constructed of coursed squared rubble with a plain tile roof and ashlar window dressings and quoins.

PLAN: the building has a T-shaped plan, with the rectangular hall orientated north-south and a central range projecting west.

EXTERIOR: the mid-C19 school building features a single-storey hall with ashlar quoins beneath a pitched roof with sprocketed eaves. A gabled range projects from the central bay of the principal (west) frontage and features a chamfered plinth, sill and lintel bands, and a pair of four-light windows with stone mullions and transoms. In the gable above is a pair of louvred slits, and surmounted on the apex of the coped gable is a wrought iron cross. To the south pitch of the roof is a stepped stone stack with quoins.

To either side of the projecting range are two pairs of glazing bar casements in flush stone surrounds. At the south end of this elevation is a doorway with a timber planked door, and to the north end is a two light casement, both with segmental arched heads and set within flush stone surrounds with spandrels. To the south elevation there are two large window openings with C20 windows, while there are two smaller multipaned windows to the north elevation. Both the north and south elevations feature coped gables inset with a pair of louvred slits flanked by metal shields featuring a crucifix.

INTERIOR: the main hall is open plan with a kitchen and servery hatch to the north end, and access to the west and east ranges. The hall is partially panelled and the ceiling features canted ribs springing from a cornice. This is continued within the western range which is accessed through a doorway in the west wall. This room features an arched niche and chimney breast, though the fireplace has been removed. To the south wall is a crucifix cartouche at cornice height. The windows are all set within segmental arched niches with chamfered sills, those to the east side of the hall are at clerestory level. The internal doors have been replaced with C20 fire doors. Throughout the building are several corbelled vents with hand-shaped turns.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

241312

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Hartwell, C, Pevsner, N, Williamson, E, The Buildings of England: Nottinghamshire, (2020), p.724

Websites
Taking Stock entry for St Mary, Worksop, accessed 13/01/2023 from https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/worksop-st-mary/

Other
OS Map 1:2500 (1887)
OS Map 1:2500 (1898)
OS Map 1:2500 (1922)
OS Map 1:2500 (1960)

End of official list entry

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