Stonyhurst College

The Boys’ Chapel and south front of Stonyhurst College in Lancashire (1877-89), which is reputed to be the longest scholastic façade in England.

 STONYHURST COLLEGE - August 1st was prize day at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, and additional interest was given to the proceedings by laying the foundation-stone of a now building in course of erection, at a cost of £12,000, after the designs of Messrs. Dunn and Hansom. The (Roman Catholic) Bishop of Salford performed the ceremony. [Builder 10 August 1878 page 845]

 STONYHUBST CHAPEL AND COLLEGE - The buildings just commenced are from the designs of Mr. Archibald Dunn and Mr. Edward Hanson, architects, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and virtually constitute a rebuilding of the college. The new front, which is in the form of an open quadrangle towards the paly ground, and facing the south, is 560 feet in length, and 55 feet in height. The west wing, containing 36 rooms, is set apart entirely for the use of the community and staff of the college, and is joined at right angles with the main building by the chapel and its cloister, forming another open quadrangle. facing towards the east. The chapel, like those at Eton, King's College, Cambridge, etc., is a single nave only, 35 feet in width, designed in the Early Perpendicular style, with moulded and carved hammer-beam roof, and panelled ceiling of that date. The east end being a blank wall is almost entirely occupied by an elaborate reredos, reaching to the roof, filled with niche work and sculptured subjects representing the various scenes from the Passion Of our Lord, the figure of the Rood crowning all, and rising into the recesses of the roof. In this design it is intended to combine the effects of the "retables," which are such striking objects in the churches of Spain, Bud the magnificent reredoses of the Perpendicular period in England, the remains of some of which have fortunately been preserved to us, as at All Souls, Oxford, etc. The principal feature of the main quadrangle, which is set back 100 feet from the wings, is the large study room, having a clear width of 35 feet, and of proportionate length and height, and is intended to accommodate the whole of the students together; it is supported on an open arcade, projecting slightly from the main line, and is flanked at each end by square turrets of the usual Elizabethan type, rising considerably above the rest of the buildings. The east wing, which comes forward to the same line of projection as the west wing, is occupied chiefly by the exhibition hall. 40 feet in width, which will be treated with panelled walls and ceilings, of which the old house furnishes excellent examples of the best period. Massive pavilions, with bay windows the full height of the building, projecting from each, terminate each of the wings, and similar bay windows of bold projection with cornices and parapets breaking round them, and occasionally with engaged shafts up the angles, are distributed here and there throughout the design, to give the necessary light and shadow, which the somewhat unusually long line of buildings demands. With the exception of the chapel roof, which is of low pitch, covered with lead, all the roofs are flat and covered with Seysael asphalte, and are inclosed by stone parapets, pierced in ornamental patterns over pavilions, bay windows, etc. The buildings will be of stone worked out of the quarries belonging to the college, and the contract been taken by Mr. Craven, of Blackburn. [Building News June 1878]

STONYHURST COLLEGE - The extensive alterations and additions to this Roman Catholic seminary, which were commenced nearly seven years ago, are now nearly completed, from designs of Messrs. Dunn and Hansom, architects, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. They provide new accommodation for 250 students, in addition to class and other rooms. The new south front of the college is 840 feet in length, including the returns, which join the centre block to the wings; and this, added to the church front, gives a total frontage of upwards of 900 feet from east to west. A cloister, 80 feet long, connects the church with the west wing. In the latter are four corridors, in as many stories, on the north side of the building, 136 feet long by 8 feet wide, and having nine large rooms opening upon it. There is a staircase at each end of the corridors, and the roof of the building is flat and covered with Claridge's asphalte, providing, as in other portions of the new building, a convenient promenade. On the basement floor of the east wing is a drawing school 40 feet by 39 feet, and 13 feet high, and a gymnasium and fencing room of the same dimensions, with rooms for music masters and music practices. In this wing, on the ground floor, are three play-rooms of large dimensions, for 60, 80, and 60 pupils respectively. All are furnished with billiard tables, chess, draughts, and other indoor games, and the walls are covered with pictures and photographs. On this floor also are two reading-rooms, and a cloister 440 feet long runs from the play-rooms past the chapel (not yet finished) towards the church, and there is a similar, but loftier, one on the floor above. The east return cloister is 103 feet in length. Two oak staircases give access to the dormitories, which provide from 1,000 to 1,500 cubic feet of air for each boy. The staircases are of solid oak, with carved handrails and balusters, and the steps are 8 feet long and 14in. broad, fitted with Hawksley's patent treads. Above the play-rooms is the Academy Hall, which is floored with oak. It is 93 feet6 in. long, 40 feet broad, and 23 feet 6 in. high, and has a stage projecting 40 feet from the floor, with a gallery for the boys at the opposite end, having 13 rows of seats. The ceiling is decorated in the style of the Elizabethan period, and the walls are enriched with plaster and panel work. The study hall, in the centre of the new building, on the same floor, is 90 feet long by 35 feet broad and 22 feet 3 in. high, and it has a plain oak wainscoting 6 feet high. Each boy has a little desk of plain polished mahogany, standing apart from that of his neighbour, and the seat has the tenant's name inscribed on a brass plate. There are twelve classrooms right and left of the study hall, and the corridor giving access to them, and the hall is 327 feet long, 14 feet wide, and 15 feet 9 in. high. The chapel will be in an ornate phase of the Perpendicular style. The height of the two central turrets of the new building is 110 feet 6in. , whereas the two old Italian cupola towers of the west front are only 99 feet from the ground to the eagles; but they stand on an elevation 5 feet higher. With the exception of the chapel and some of the lavatories, the whole work has been accomplished. The total cost of the alterations and additions has been estimated at from £100,000 to £150,000. In the BUILDING NEWS for June 28, 1878, two double-page illustrations, including perspectives, and a plan of the additions to the college, were given.  [Building News 12 June 1885 page 951-952]

Reference        Building News 21 June 1878
Reference        Builder 10 August 1878 page 845 – foundation stone
Reference        Building News 12 June 1885 page 951-952