Listed Building record MDR10491 - Derby Grammar School, Rykneld Road, Derby

Derby Grammar School, Rykneld Road, Derby, built c1780. 'In the 1780s Josias Cockshutt built a 3-bay 2½ storey gentleman's house in a small estate. This was of brick with a low parapet and an oak staircase within. Between 1800 and 1806 it was extended by Cockshutt who had inherited a fortune from his wife's family. He built a 5 by 3 bay block adjoining the original house, but forward of it and of only 2 storeys. Further alterations were carried out in 1826 by an amateur architect, Richard Leaper of Derby. It was further enlarged after 1878 by Sir Abraham Woodiwiss, a Mayor of Derby. The resultant effect is pedestrian, if grand, with a regular 8-bay south front and an 11-bay north front, the 3 to the east projecting, being the incorporated 18th century house. Fine brick stables remain.' (1) 'The Pastures [now Derby Grammar School] is a multi-phase classical villa which was originally built in c1780. It stands in its own landscaped grounds beside a lake. The house was probably extended in c1806 to designs attributed to James Wyatt, but was partly re-fronted in c1826. Around the year 1902 the house was remodelled internally and greatly extended for Walter Boden in a conservative style, probably to the designs of Alexander MacPherson. A new wing was built to house a billiard room with guest bedrooms above. In the 1960s the house became a hospital, at which time the main stair was removed and parts of the stable courtyard demolished. At the time of survey in 1994 the house was empty and a housing estate was being constructed in its grounds. Despite institutional alterations, the house retains high quality plasterwork and other fixtures and fittings.' (2) 'The building known as 'The Pastures' in the 19th century began as a modest villa in c1790 and was rebuilt and extended in 1806 by Richard Leaper for the Peels. A photograph shows it after rebuilding in c1890 to designs by Alexander MacPherson for Walter Boden, the lace manufacturer. It became a geriatric hospital after the war, then a nurses training centre, and is now [in 1996] a grammar school.' (3) 'Building designed by Richard Leaper; aristocratic amateur architect.' (4) From the National Heritage List for England: 'This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 13 June 2023 to correct a typo in the description and to reformat the text to current standards SK 33 SW 11/208A RYKNELD ROAD (East side) Derby independent Grammar School (Formerly listed as Rykneld Hospital) II Small country house now Special Hospital. Built c1780 for Josias Cockshutt. c1806 enlarged possibly by Wyatt, 1826 south front re-faced for Cockshutt Heathcote to the designs of an amateur architect Richard Leaper of Derby. 1881-3 enlarged again for Sir Abraham Woodiwiss. C20 institutional alterations and additions. Brick rendered, and ashlar faced with ashlar dressings. Slate hipped roofs behind a parapet. Entrance front of 10 bays with a rendered three bay, two and a half storey projecting wing to the north-east which was the original house. The ground floor has a single glazing bar sash to the left, the remainder is obscured by an inappropriate C20 single storey extension, above three glazing bar sashes,with above again three smaller glazing bar sashes. The central recessed two storey, five bay addition of c1806 has another addition of 1881-3 in a similar style and two bays to the south-west. This block has a plain plinth,and first floor cill band, with a moulded cornice topped by acroterion. The entrance bay projects slightly and is topped by a pediment, it has a projecting tripartite porch of 1881-3 articulated with Roman Doric pilasters supporting an entablature.The central doorway is emphasized by two slightly projecting Roman Doric columns supporting a pediment. The half glazed double doors are flanked by narrow side lights. Above and behind; a small tripartite glazing bar sash. Either side are two glazing bar sashes in moulded surrounds, beyond to the right is a slightly projecting bay, with a plank door and glazing bar overlight in a tall ashlar pedimented surround, beyond again is another single similar glazing bar sash. Over the entrance is a single glazing bar sash in a moulded surround, within a shallow segmental arch supported on small Roman Doric columns, the arch itself is moulded with a keystone. Either side are two more glazing bar sashes in moulded surrounds, beyond to the right a three small C20 casements and beyond again another glazing bar sash in a moulded surround. The two storey, eight bay south-east front has a moulded plinth, ground and first floor plain bands and a moulded cornice topped by acroterion. The ground floor is rusticated with rusticated pilaster strips, the first floor has Roman Doric pilasters. The central two bays are flanked by two storey bow windows and beyond these are flanked by two more bays. The two central bays have tall glazing bar sashes in finely moulded surrounds,either side the bow windows have three glazing bar sashes to each floor,the surrounds have exceedingly tall and slender Roman Doric pilasters supporting an entablature Either side again are two more glazing bar sashes in finely moulded surrounds. The upper floor has a similar window arrangement. INTERIOR. The oval former two storey staircase hall, from which the staircase has been removed and which has then been floored in to make two rooms. There is now a fine wooden pedimented ' doorcase and niches ' in the lower room, and niches and a bracketed cornice plus a late C19 overlight in the room above. The former saloon still retains its wreathed and swagged Adamesque plasterwork with low relief panels and an ornate cornice and ceiling rose. Above another room has similar wreathed and swagged plasterwork and cornice, plus later raised and fielded panelling with thin pilasters to the picture rail. The present, 1881-3 staircase hall has an oak single flight stair with turned balusters supported on Corinthian columns, plus C17 style square panelling topped with an entablature, and incorporating an oak fireplace surround re-using some pieces of original C17 panelling. The ornate plasterwork C17 style ceiling also dates from 1881-3. In a ground floor room, in the original block is a large very fine stone fireplace with overmantle, this fireplace is largely early C17 and of very high quality probably brought in at a later date and slightly altered. It has crude Ionic columns supporting a manted piece entablature with a probably mid C18, ornately carved arabesque frieze, the overmantel has Ionic pilasters with carved panels supporting an elaborately carved entablature, the central panel contains two fruit and foliate wreaths with ribbons, they are divided by an ornately turned baluster. Another upper room has heavy C19 Roccoco style plasterwork. Listing NGR: SK3188433150.' (5)