Description

TIVERTON

SS9512 LEAT STREET, Tiverton
848-1/6/218 Heathcoat School
12/02/52
(Formerly Listed as:
LEAT STREET
Heathcoat's Girls' School)

GV II

Factory school, built to the designs of Gideon Acland Boyce
for John Heathcoat for the education for the children of
Heathcoat's lace-workers and for the lace-workers themselves.
The school is now used as a factory shop. 1841, opened 1843.
Purple ashlar masonry, rear elevations plastered; slate roof,
gabled at ends; stacks with ashlar shafts with octagonal pots;
cast-iron rainwater goods.
PLAN: H-plan with very long rear wings. The front ranges are
closed off with a cross-range at the rear forming an enclosed
courtyard, the rear wings extend in two parts, possibly two
phases, with an open courtyard between.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attic. Symmetrical 1:3:1-bay front,
the 3 centre bays recessed with a small coped gable with
kneelers. Moulded string at first floor and attic level of
ends of crosswings. 2 shallow 2-storey bays to left and right
wings with plain parapets and 4 segmental-headed lights with
geometric glazing bars to each storey window. The panel
between the windows is carved with the initials J.H., the date
1841, and swags of net of the type that was produced in the
factory.
The centre section has a central gabled dormer with kneelers
and outer Tudor arched doorways with plank and cover strip
doors. Further, similar doorways in the inner returns of the
wings. The centre section has 3 ground floor 2-light stone
mullioned windows with segmental-headed lights and the remains
of geometrical leaded panes. 3 similar but shorter first-floor
windows; small rectangular stone-framed window in gabled
dormer; small 2-light similar attic windows in gables of
crosswings.
The rear elevations are very attractive with a cobbled yard
between, small roof gables and pentices on iron posts.
INTERIOR: not inspected but may retain features of interest.
HISTORY: according to Mark Brayshay this is the West Country's
first factory school. By March 1846 Heathcoat claimed that of
the 1,218 hands employed in the factory, only thirty remained
completely illiterate (p.89). Heathcoat's paternalism
frequently ran in advance of government legislation.
Outstanding historical importance as an example of this type.
(Brayshay M: Heathcoat's Industrial Housing in Tiverton,
Devon: 1991-: 82-104).

Listing NGR: SS9520012701

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26664664

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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