St German's Court

Cadw's description

Location

On corner of of Metal Street and Tin Street.

History

Former St German's Church School. Dated 1874. By G F Bodley and T Garner, architects, of London. Arts and Crafts influenced, perhaps also inspired by St Fagan's Castle. The land had been given by Lord Tredegar, the building opened 5 July 1875; cost £3400.

Exterior

Former school, now converted to residential use. Tall 2-storey and attic longitudinal block with narrow gabled forebuilding on R and lower cross-range forward on L, later 2-storey block over entrance in angle to L. Steep tiled roofs, barge-boards (raised gables to outer wings), oversailing eaves, resdtored red brick stacks to front wall chimneys with set-offs (originally with polygonal stacks), ornamental brackets for bell on centre stack. Rendered walls, freestone dressings (painted) including sillband at 1st floor, hoodmould to ground floor and fleur-de-lys panels. Pair of large tiled gabled dormers with 4-light casement windows linked behind tiled eaves to 1st floor glazing, 2-light windows alternate below eaves, five 2-light mullioned and transomed widows (upper lights blocked) to ground floor. All windows (formerly with small-pane leaded glazing, now replaced by timber and metal frames. Right gable with 2-light Tudor attic window, pointed arch to stair entry for boys in return angle. Window treatment to Tin Street gable consists of single attic window, and 2 windows on first and ground floors. Left cross-range has one-and-a-half storeys, gable haswindow to each floor (blind window to apex), corner chimney to R; inner return has large tiled gabled dormer, 2 small pane windows to ground floor.

Modernised range to N along Metal Street not included.

Reason for designation

Listed as first contribution by Bodley to group consisting of St German's church, clergy house, and this former school. Group value with other nearby Bodley buildings.