1881 – Hereford County College, Herefordshire

“The Hereford County College has been built within half a mile of the city by a company of which the Dean of Hereford is the chairman, the object being to meet the modem requirements of a good sound education at a moderate cost, the inclusive cost for boarders being £30, and for day-boys £10 per annum. The buildings, which have already been erected, comprise schoolroom 50ft. by 24ft., six class-rooms, each 18ft. by 20ft., dining-hall 45ft. by 20ft., two large staircases, wide corridor, lavatories, boot- cleaning room, cloak-room, and drying-room for clothes, all of which are on the ground-floor. On the first floor there are three dormitories for boys, bath-room, matron’s work-room, master’s-room, housemaid’s-closet, and W.C. On the second floor there are four large dormitories for boys, a sick-room, bath-room, housemaid’s-closet, w.c, and two master’s-rooms. The head-master’s house is attached to the school, and gives the following accommodation : — dining-room, drawing-room, study-hall, cloak-room, w.c, two staircases, butler’s pantry, butler’s-bedroom, master’s- room, servants’ hall, pantry, larder, vegetable – room, wood and coal stores, eleven bed- rooms, spacious cellarage, and a lift which communicates with each floor from the cellar to the top of the house, where there is a large loft in the roof for storage of boxes, &o. The kitchen and scullery are placed between the house and the school, and are used in common for the head master as well as for school purposes. A temporary chapel has been erected, and this, when the permanent chapel is built, will be converted into a library and reading-room, a workshop, or class-rooms, as may be most needed at the time. A stable for the accommodation of day- boys’ ponies is now being built, and other additions are contemplated. Mr. Kempson, of Hereford, is the architect, and Mr. James Bowers, of the same city, the contractor. The material which has been used is local brick, with blue brick-bands and Bath stone dressings ; the roofs are covered with Broseley tiles, and the joiners’ work throughout is pitch pine and oak. The building, so far as it has been carried out, has cost about £14,000. The whole of the school-buildings, including the dormitories, are heated by hot water, and the school and class- rooms have, in addition, fireplaces for occasional use ; the water supply is obtained by means of a steam-pump.”