St Columban’s College (RC)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

U planned, two storey, flat roofed school facing south east with squat tower and chimneystack, two lower blocks to rear.

South east elevation: long linear block, in brick with concrete window surrounds, parapet copings and dressings. Central entrance flanked on either side by two flat roofed, single storey office returns with semicircular ends, and continuous bands of (UPVC) windows. Ground floor continuous bands of (uPVC) windows on either side of office returns terminate in 1.5 storey brick blocks that once housed pupils entrances (now windows). First floor continuous band of dressed (UPVC) windows, with overhanging concrete copings to parapet above.

Central tower: squat brick (with concrete parapet copings) structure rising 1 storey to rear of main block, in front of which (flanked by two small metal framed windows) rises (perpendicular to façade) a tall rectangular chimney (also in brick) a modern clock and concrete coping.

Rear blocks similar but with metal windows and plainer detailing

Historical information

Constructed in the immediate post-war years.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building with its long horizontal lines, continuous bands of glazing, and interlocking rectangular forms, is an interesting example of a post-war school designed in a style which is a mixture of the pre-war Moderne and post-war Festival of Britain styles. However, it is not of special architectural or historic interest. The replacement of the thin-framed metal windows along its façade with broader plastic frames of a different glazing pattern has also adversely affected its character.