[2680] The Blewcoat School, London

An elegant townhouse of red brick, Blewcoat was built in 1709 by a London brewer to provide education for poor children, Blewcoat remained a school until 1926, and for a time served as the National Trust's main London gift shop.

 

The building was used as a military store by US forces during WWII, and then as a youth club by the Girl Guides. The National Trust purchased the property in 1954 and used it as their main London headquarters, and later as a gift shop.

 

In 2014 the school building was opened by British designer Ian Stuart as a luxury boutique, specialising in exclusive fashions.

 

The Blewcoat School building was erected in 1709. It is built of a combination of yellow and red brick, dressed with stone around door and window openings. The exterior is embellished with neoclassical details, with Doric pillars at each corner. Over the doorway is a plaque that reads 'The Blewcoat School, built in the year 1709'.

 

Above the plaque is a niche holding a large statue of a Blewcoat charity boy wearing the school's traditional uniform, with a long blue coat and bright yellow stockings. Above the statue niche is a clock with a blue face and gold hands and numerals, bearing the date 1709.

 

Text Ref: www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=1421

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