![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brentorpc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/West-Blackdown-School-plan-1.jpg\")
<\/a>The site plan for the school in 1889 – click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The school is on the left, Brentor Station to the right, about 1900<\/p><\/div>\n
Plans were drawn up by the Launceston architect Otto Peter and the builder Mr G H Strike of Launceston was appointed to build the school at a cost of \u00a3225.\u00a0 The sloping site required considerable excavation and the building of retaining walls which still exist today.\u00a0The funds needed to build the school were borrowed from the Public Works Loans Commissioners at an interest rate of 3.5% over 35 years – the school actually closed down before it was fully repaid!\u00a0 There was a single storey classroom, 26 ft (7.8m) long, 18ft (5.5m) wide and 16ft (4.9m) high with a strong wooden-beamed roof supported on granite quoins and a pine floor. \u00a0The school was substantially built, with local stone walls almost 30 inches (75cm) thick and incorporating a pitch damp proof course. The sand for the mortar came from the Wheal Friendship mine in Mary Tavy.\u00a0 The walls incorporate very large granite corner stones and lintels. A 40ft deep well was constructed to provide a water supply for the school and the building was enclosed by high stone walls.\u00a0 The large leaded windows had sloping windowsills and were high enough from the ground to prevent the children being distracted by the view to Bren Tor.\u00a0 There was little room for a playground on the small site but it was surrounded by open moorland.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Evidence for the original colour scheme of the classroom<\/p><\/div>\n
Traces of wear on the floors from countless small hobnail boots, in rows where the children sat at their desks were discovered during building work in 2003. \u00a0There was also evidence that the interior cement-rendered walls were painted dark cream, with a red horizontal stripe an inch wide about 45 inches from the floor.\u00a0\u00a0 The classroom was heated with a stove that sat on a concrete hearth, and the building had a single chimney.\u00a0 There was a small entrance vestibule to the left hand side, with a slate floor and coat racks for the children\u2019s wet clothes, and outside toilets to the right hand side.<\/p>\n