Saint Patrick's National School

Detached school, dated 1958, having six-bay double-height centre block having longer U-plan single-storey flat-roof block attached to rear, rectangular-plan three-stage tower to west gable. Pitched tile roof with some cast-iron rainwater goods. Coursed rubble sandstone walls with timber cladding and painted roughcast render panels below windows. Square-headed window openings having quadruple six-pane timber windows to front elevation, with some aluminium replacements, single-pane timber windows to clerestorey at rear of main block and to tower, and recent timber casement windows to flat-roof block, all having painted render sills. Square-headed door openings to east and west of flat-roof block, having double-leaf glazed timber doors with flanking sidelights, set under concrete canopies supported on metal posts and having flagstone steps. Painted timber battened door to tower, with cast-iron gate and painted rendered boundary wall. Outbuildings to east and west of main building, comprising L-shaped open-sided shelters with timber cladding and single-bay flat roofed outbuildings. Painted roughcast rendered walls to site with painted render copings and pair of double-leaf cast-iron entrance gates.

This school was paid for by Archbishop Richard Cushing (1895-1970) of Boston and, dedicated to his Glanworth-born father, Patrick (1856-1924), was originally named Cushing Memorial School. Its form and construction are notable, comprising near-perfect symmetry (save for the tower) and the combined use of natural and man-made materials. The emphasis on the horizontal is articulated in the long low façade and square windows of the tower and projections, and contrasts with the vertically-aligned window openings. Evidence of the Celtic-Revival style is visible in the lettering on the entrance plaques. This building is an attractive example of mid-twentieth-century school buildings, and retains many features which are essential to its original character.