The Grove, Jesmond Akhurst School and gas lamp

House, now school. Dated 1831 on rain water head; for Matthew Anderson. Sandstone
ashlar with roof of graduated Lakeland slate. Irregular plan. Tudor style. 2
storeys, 5 bays, the right lower. Gables over first, second and fourth bays.
First bay set back,with 2-storey extruded porch,has Tudor-arched 12-panelled
door in moulded surround under leaf-bracketed drip mould and Tudor-flower ground-
floor frieze. Glazing bars to windows in hollow-chamfered surrounds; narrow Tudor-
arched sash above door; cross windows in gabled bays; bay between gables has 2
small sashes below a tall window of 2 cusped lights. Right end bay has plainer
windows. Label moulds to all windows. Cyma moulded plinth except to right end bay.
First floor string stepped down in third bay to sill of tall window. Corbel table
to porch and between gables under continuous frieze, Ogee finials on shafts at
gable peaks. Steeply-pitched roofs have massive panelled and corniced chimneys of
2 and 3 stages. Rain water head MA 1831 on right return. Interior: cantilevered
stair with curtail and wreathed handrail has turned balusters with lower section
cord-moulded. Floral stucco frieze in room to right of door. Principal ground-floor
room has ceiling with moulded ribs on Gothic brackets; Gothic chimney piece of
painted sandstone with carved spandrels and Tudor arch; cast iron Gothic grate.
Many original 8-panelled (4 over 4) doors in Tudor-arched surrounds. Gas lamp to
left of door: cast iron. Octagonal base; acanthus buds clasp 2 fluted sections
and form domed top; square lampholder with high domed finial. LISTED GRADE 2