Summary
A former National School, built in 1845 to educate local girls. Since the mid-C20, it has served as the church hall to the adjacent Church of St Michael and All Angels.
Reasons for Designation
The former National School at Appleby Magna is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* for its attractive and good quality design, the simplicity of which is enhanced by the quality of the local materials and detailing included;
* despite some alterations, the school largely retains its character and legibility in terms of its plan and function.
Historic interest:
* as an early example of a national school, which was commissioned by the landowner;
* as a relatively rare example of a village school, predating the 1870 Education Act, which prompted a dramatic expansion in school provision nationally.
Group value:
* the building is adjacent to the Church of St Michael and All Angels, which it has served as the Church Hall to since the mid-C20.
History
The former National School at Appleby Magna is located to the west of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (GII*; NHLE 1177814).
The provision of public education in England increased dramatically during the C19, fuelled by competition between Anglican and Nonconformist churches. In 1808, the Society for Promoting the Lancastrian System for the Education of the Poor was established, followed in 1811 by the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. The latter supported the building of National Schools, which became a common feature of English towns with new schools being built across the country; these tended to be small, often with not more than a single classroom. These new schools were intended to provide elementary education to the children of the poor and provided the first near-universal system of elementary education in England and Wales.
The construction of the school at Appleby Magna is understood to have been funded by George Moore, on whose estate it was built. The building first appears on the 1884 OS map, however the datestone on the building indicates that it was opened in 1845. The local grammar school provided an education for boys, and so it is thought that the national school educated local girls. In 1934, the school’s remit was expanded to include the education of younger boys to create a mixed school. In 1935 it was recorded that 96 children were educated within the school.
The building began to be used as a church hall associated with the adjacent Church of St Michael and All Angels in 1959 following its closure as a school. It was officially opened by the Archdeacon of Loughborough in 1972. Some alterations have been made, such as the conversion of the headmaster’s office to toilets and the insertion of an additional toilet block. A false ceiling has also been inserted to both rooms of the school. Two external toilet blocks in the playground were demolished, along with the playgrounds dividing wall. The western elevation of the building has been altered to include an additional three gabled range, and the infilling of part of the T-plan form.
Details
A former National School, built in 1845 to educate local girls. Since the mid-C20, it has served as the church hall to the adjacent Church of St Michael and All Angels.
MATERIALS: red brick with stone quoins and plinth.
PLAN: T-plan form with infilled range to the rear. The building also has two single storey eastern protrusions, with attached toilet block.
EXTERIOR: the former national school is single storey with gable walls to the cross-wing. To the eastern elevation, there are two single storey gabled protrusions; one is the entrance and porch to the building, and one houses the former headmaster’s office. They both have a single, centrally placed, mullion window and the largest gable also features a false slit window. Attached to the porch is a mid-C20 extension housing a toilet block, with a flat roof. This extension partially blocks one of the two windows to the main eastern elevation.
The western elevation is four bays, with a large gable wall forming part of the T-plan form, and three smaller gables which fill the recessed section. The centrally located bay of the three smaller gables features an entrance, currently blocked, and is flanked by a single mullion window to each side, each with a false slit window above. The larger gable wall also features a single mullion window, with slit window above, and an off-centre door. There is evidence in the brickwork for the original location of the doorway.
The northern elevation is three bays; one is a slightly protruding gable. Each bay has a single mullioned window, and the central bay has a datestone above inscribed National School 1845.
The southern elevation is a single bay, gable end with a single mullion window centrally located with a false, stone slit window above.
INTERIOR: the interior of the building is divided into two rooms, one now serving as a kitchen. A lowered ceiling has been inserted throughout, complete with coving; it is understood that the original timber roof structure survives above. A shared chimney stack is located between the two rooms, although the fireplaces have been removed and the openings bricked up and partially concealed by panelling.
The main entrance leads into the larger of the two rooms, which has two supports, thought to be cast-iron.
From the second room, now the kitchen, there is access to the former headmaster’s office located at the eastern side of the building. There is also access to the rear of the building via a modern opening and evidence of the original door opening is visible in the brickwork.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: to the rear of the building is an enclosed yard enclosed by a brick wall topped with stone coping stones. The wall features regularly spaced brick piers, and a wooden gate at the northern section.
