The school has two schoolrooms, the upper one measuring 17m x 7.5m and the lower one measuring 15m x 7.5m. These are separated by a 2m wide passage that leads to the under-masters' quarters. The roof is thought to be a copy of the chapel roof at Frithelstock Abbey near Torrington. It has a cupola and bell, which various sources date to 1840 or 1740. This replaced an earlier bell and cupola from 1613.
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Blundell's School was founded in 1604 by Peter Blundell, a wealthy clothier from Tiverton, Devon. Blundell was a devout Christian and wanted to create a school that would provide a good education for boys from all walks of life. He left £20,000 in his will to build and endow the school, which was a significant sum of money at the time. The school opened in 1604 with around 150 pupils. The school relocated to larger premises on its current site in 1882.
Each schoolroom has a porch that opens onto the Green. Above the door is the inscription "P. 1604 B.", a reference to Peter Blundell, the clothier who founded the school. Another porch leads to the dining hall, which is almost 11m long. The headmaster's rooms are at the end of the building.
The Green is walled around and enclosed by iron gates (100074) that replaced wooden gates in 1695. At the same time, the porters' lodges were built and the Green was planted with lime trees. In 1773, the floors and wainscoats inside the schoolrooms were removed. There is a tradition that some of the wood used to build the schoolrooms came from the wrecks of the Spanish Armada, which sank a dozen or so years before the school was built, but this is unlikely to be true.
Further modifications were made in 1836-7, but the basic structure of the school remained unchanged. In 1844, an oak floor replaced the stone paving in the dining hall.
In 1954, the Governors of Blundell's School, with the help of the Pilgrim Trust and the Goldsmiths' Company, donated the school and three acres of land to the National Trust.
Address
Old Blundell's School, 4 Blundell's Road, Tiverton, Devon EX16 4LD
Historic Categorisations and Statutes
Statutory Heritage Listing
Grade: I (Grade One). This is the highest level of protection, reserved for buildings of "exceptional interest." It is one of the most significant historic school buildings in England.
List Entry Number: 1384961
Date First Listed: February 12, 1952
Significance: Recognized as an outstanding example of early 17th-century institutional architecture. It features a long, symmetrical range of Ham stone ashlar, notable for its original porches, stone-mullioned windows, and an exceptionally rare "star pattern" wind-brace roof structure.
Local Designations
Blundell's Conservation Area: The building serves as the namesake and focal point of the Blundell's Conservation Area (designated in 2014), protecting the historic link between the town and the school.
National Trust Property: Since 1954, it has been under the care of the National Trust, ensuring public access to the forecourt and the preservation of its exterior.
Site Components & Heritage Records
The Schoolhouse: Originally divided into the "Higher School," "Lower School," and "Dining Hall."
The Forecourt & Lodges: Includes the 17th-century perimeter walls, a central entrance arch (dated 1604), and two small lodges.
Historic Environment Record (HER): Indexed in the Devon & Dartmoor HER under ID MDV12365.
Chronology of Historic Uses
1604–1882: The original site of Blundell’s School, founded by Peter Blundell. For 278 years, it operated as one of the country's most prestigious grammar schools.
1882: The school moved to its current site at Horsdon; the old buildings were converted into six private residential flats.
1940–1945: Repurchased by the "Old Blundellian Club" to save it from potential redevelopment or decay.
WWII: The upper hall was partially damaged by fire caused by soldiers billeted on the site.
1954–Present: Gifted to the National Trust. While largely residential for decades, recent plans involve converting parts of the site into a community hub and visitor attraction.
