St Mary’s Public Elementary Boys’ School, Woodland Road, Windermere

WWINDERMERE - A new boy's school, erected by the managers of St. Mary's Schools at Windermere, was opened a fortnight ago. The school contains large room, 50 feet by 20 feet classroom, 25 feet 6in. by 18 feet; monitor's private room, and a good large roomy porch. The school is built of the blue stone of the district, with freestone dressings. The building is Late Gothic in character, freely treated, and has been built by local contractors, from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Robert Watkin, * M.S.A., architect and surveyor, Windermere.  [Building News 15 February 1889 page 257]

THE NEW BOYS' SCHOOL. WINDERMERE. The Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen's some accession to the throne of England has not been commemorated in any more worthy manner in this vicinity than by the erection of a new Boys' School at Windermere. The need for this had been felt for some years previously. the school hitherto having boss a mixed one. but it was not until 1887 that it was found possible to inaugurate the erection of a Boys' School It was decided that they should form a memorial of the Queen's Jubilee. The site fixed upon was on Woodland Road, and Mr. Robert Walker, of Windermere, was instructed to prepare plans for the building. The contracts were let and the work was commenced a little over nine months ago, and practically finished a short time ago.

The building is of late Gothic dodge and comprises a large schoolroom, classroom, master's room, porch, etc. The porch is on the west side of the structure and measures 13ft by 12ft. Here there is a lavatory, and to the height of about six feet the walls are lined with glazed bricks along which are rows of pegs. To the left of the porch the master's room, measuring 10ft 6in. by 11ft.„ and to the right is the schoolroom, which is 50 ft. 6in. long and 20ft. 2in wide. The latter is a handsome, lofty, _well-lighted and ventilated room. The roof, which is about 19ft. above the floor, is supported by three pairs of pitch pine principals, and around the walls is pitch-pine wainscotting. Three large windows on each side of the room and three at the south end light the room. The classroom Is at the north end and measures 25ft. 6in by 18ft. The furnishings are similar to those in the schoolroom and the flooring of both is composed of noiseless wood blocks. The heating arrangements are on the hot-water principle, but in each room is a fire-grate in which are placed fireclay bricks, the fresh cold air being brought through the bottom and going into the school by openings. This grate we understand, is the invention of the architect, who has called it "The Health-giving Grate." Fresh air is conducted into the room and foul air out by air ducts, and ventilators in the roofs.  At the south end of the large room is another porch opening into the playground, which measures 60 or 70 yards by 27 or 28 yards, and which is not yet in order. The walls are all stone finished, the advantage of this being that there cannot be the perspiration of the walls which is often noticed in the public halls. From the exterior the building presents a very neat appearance. The walls are of Applethwaite stone with freestone dressings. A bell-turret is erected over the centre of the roofs of the school and classrooms. Over the door will be placed the motto "Fear God and honour the King," and in a shield in front the master's room the initials “VR 1887”." The offices are at the south-east end of the playground and the heating chamber is underneath the classroom. The total cost of the erection will be over £1,200. Subjoined is a list of the contractors: Masonry walling etc., T and M Atkinson; joiner’s work Longmire and Robinson; plastering H J Armstrong; plumbing J Pattinson; glazing Messrs Heaton, Windermere; and heating and ventilation, Messrs Seward and Company, Lancaster. All are to be congratulated on their work, as also the architect. In future the old school will be devoted to the use of the girls. [Lakes Chronicle and Reporter 11 January 1889 page 5]

Reference    Building News 15 February 1889 page 257
Reference    Lakes Chronicle and Reporter 11 January 1889 page 5

*Note Error in Building News report. Architect was Robert Walker, not Robert Watkin