Holy Trinity Parish Schools, Draycott Street, Chelsea

CHELSEA - The new schools for the parish of Holy Trinity, Upper Chelsea, which were formally opened by Earl Cadogan, on the 27th ult., are situated in Draycott-street, with additional frontages towards Pavilion-road, and Draycott-place. Accommodation for 400 boys is provided, in accordance with the regulations of the Committee of Council, in two school-rooms, 75 ft. by 20 ft., and 58 ft. by 20 ft.; and two class rooms, 19 ft. by 15 ft., and 17 ft. by 15 ft. The principal entrances are in Draycott-street and Draycott-place, each with class-room adjoining, while lavatories and the usual conveniences are provided at the back, the playground being in front. The style is Gothic, pretty freely treated in stock brick, relieved by a few red and white plain, and moulded ones, in bands, arches, and cornices, and some Bath stones, in windows, doors, and fireplaces. The roofs are covered with slates, and finished with ornamental buff tile crests. Inside they open to the ridge, stained and varnished, and plastered between the rafters. The lighting is prettily effected by pendent gas stars, from the centres of each pair of arched principals. Webb's encaustic tiles are used to floor the porches and hearths, and the grates have been provided and fixed by Mr. Penfold. The sanitary, warming, and ventilating, arrangements have had consideration, and the desks in the largest school-room will be “reversible,” with hinged seats, to allow of a free passage, while in the smaller room they will be those with enclosed shelves below, divided off for each boy. The playground will be covered with tar pavement, provided with gymnasium, and enclosed with dwarf wall and railing. These schools having been carried out for only 4l. 10s. per child (exclusive of a special extra item of foundations, caused by building over ground excavated by the Metropolitan District Railway), are amongst the cheapest that have been erected in London as yet. The architect was Mr. E. H. Lingen Barker, and the contractors were Messrs. Thom & Co. [Builder 14 February 1874 page 140]