Heathcoat School
HEATHCOAT SCHOOL, LEAT STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1384847
- Date first listed:
- 12-Feb-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Heathcoat School
- Statutory Address:
- HEATHCOAT SCHOOL, LEAT STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-11-13
- Reference:
- IOE01/12922/13
- Rights:
- © Mr Andy J. Copp. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1384847
- Date first listed:
- 12-Feb-1952
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 10-Apr-2000
- List Entry Name:
- Heathcoat School
- Statutory Address 1:
- HEATHCOAT SCHOOL, LEAT STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- HEATHCOAT SCHOOL, LEAT STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Devon
- District:
- Mid Devon (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Tiverton
- National Grid Reference:
- SS 95200 12701
Details
TIVERTON
SS9512 LEAT STREET, Tiverton
848-1/6/218 Heathcoat School
12/02/52
(Formerly Listed as:
LEAT STREET
Heathcoat's Girls' School)
GV II
Factory school, built to the designs of Gideon Acland Boyce
for John Heathcoat for the education for the children of
Heathcoat's lace-workers and for the lace-workers themselves.
The school is now used as a factory shop. 1841, opened 1843.
Purple ashlar masonry, rear elevations plastered; slate roof,
gabled at ends; stacks with ashlar shafts with octagonal pots;
cast-iron rainwater goods.
PLAN: H-plan with very long rear wings. The front ranges are
closed off with a cross-range at the rear forming an enclosed
courtyard, the rear wings extend in two parts, possibly two
phases, with an open courtyard between.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attic. Symmetrical 1:3:1-bay front,
the 3 centre bays recessed with a small coped gable with
kneelers. Moulded string at first floor and attic level of
ends of crosswings. 2 shallow 2-storey bays to left and right
wings with plain parapets and 4 segmental-headed lights with
geometric glazing bars to each storey window. The panel
between the windows is carved with the initials J.H., the date
1841, and swags of net of the type that was produced in the
factory.
The centre section has a central gabled dormer with kneelers
and outer Tudor arched doorways with plank and cover strip
doors. Further, similar doorways in the inner returns of the
wings. The centre section has 3 ground floor 2-light stone
mullioned windows with segmental-headed lights and the remains
of geometrical leaded panes. 3 similar but shorter first-floor
windows; small rectangular stone-framed window in gabled
dormer; small 2-light similar attic windows in gables of
crosswings.
The rear elevations are very attractive with a cobbled yard
between, small roof gables and pentices on iron posts.
INTERIOR: not inspected but may retain features of interest.
HISTORY: according to Mark Brayshay this is the West Country's
first factory school. By March 1846 Heathcoat claimed that of
the 1,218 hands employed in the factory, only thirty remained
completely illiterate (p.89). Heathcoat's paternalism
frequently ran in advance of government legislation.
Outstanding historical importance as an example of this type.
(Brayshay M: Heathcoat's Industrial Housing in Tiverton,
Devon: 1991-: 82-104).
Listing NGR: SS9520012701
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 485306
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Brayshay, M, Southern History in Heathcoat's Industrial Housing in Tiverton, (1991), 82-104
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 15-Jun-2026 at 05:29:54.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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