Spring Hill Congregational College was built between 1854 and 1857 to the designs of Joseph James of London in a Decorated style. It was built to a traditional college plan with a library, hall and covered cloister. The main frontage features an axial tower with a corner turret. The elevations are of red brick with lavish well executed stone dressings and detailing. Many of the mullioned windows feature tracery and ballflower ornament. There are crocket finials and crocket trimmed gables.
Spring Hill College is situated at Wake Green to the east of Moseley village, some four miles south of Birmingham city centre. It occupies an elevated position, with the tower visible for some distance around.
Spring Hill College is significant in that the main features of the tower and library have been relatively little altered over the past one hundred and forty years. Whilst internally several other areas have been significantly remodelled the external elevations remain much as they were in the mid 1920's. There are several fine decoratively carved gryphons, gargoyles and other carved stone ornamentation.
Wake Green Road Wing originally housed the dormitories and studies of the college students. After housing a police station during W.W.I it was extensively remodelled in the mid-1920's when it was converted into classroom accommodation for Moseley School. The building still bears the scars of bomb damage from W.W.II.
The wing has been out of use and semi-derelict for nearly a decade following the discovery of dry rot. Externally many fine features survive including gothic windows with fine tracery and an elaborately decorated oriel window.
The most striking feature of the Headmaster's House and that first seen on approaching from Wake Green Road is the decorative gothic tracery of the windows. There are several gables with stone copings and finials. The octagonal tower houses the water tank and is surmounted by a decorative limestone chimney. There is a wealth of carved stone detail from gargoyles spouting rainwater to floral decorations around the front door.
The Headmaster's House was originally occupied by the college warden. From 1923 to 1972 it was occupied by successive headmasters of Moseley school. Despite being converted for sixth form teaching in the early 1970's the house still retains most of its original features. Of particular note are the marble fireplaces, original 1850's ironmongery to doors and windows and many of the original doors.
Perhaps the most architecturally important part of the original college is the library.
The external elevation features four large moulded windows of an early 15th century decorated style. Only fragments of the original stained glass remain in the tracery. Over the tracery is a pierced parapet surmounted by four elegantly carved finials.
The ornate timber roof structure with carved angels is in urgent need of structural restraint due to movement of the external wall. It is proposed to effect this by means of a series of stainless steel ties located at high level within the library. This exciting proposal has received Listed Building Consent. English Heritage has been closely involved in the design process.
The tower stands some 78 feet high with a bell turret adding an extra 14 feet. It is clearly visible from some considerable distance as it stands on the highest point of the site. An octagonal spiral staircase climbs the full height of the tower from the library and there are excellent views from the roof.
There is much ornament including stone gryphons, angels, gargoyles and floral decorations. Sadly much of this ornament has been subject to erosion.
Internally the upper rooms are unaltered save for the addition of electric lighting and feature timber ceilings, exposed beams and original fireplaces. The entrance hall was remodelled in the 1920's but still retains much of its original ornament and panelling.
Following renovation the tower will again provide the main entrance to the listed building.
Originally the dining hall this area is now used by the school sixth form. The elevation to the playing fields has been altered very little and features gothic windows, original cast iron hoppers and drainpipes. There are a number of well-preserved stone gargoyles in the form of lions' heads. Internally many of the original beams with their carved angels are visible.
Less elaborate than the headmaster's house, the caretaker's house is still in occupation and has been altered very little. A particular feature of the elevations is the decorative brickwork and ornate chimneys.
The assembly hall dates from the mid 1920's but is built on the foundations of the swimming bath from the 1890's when the buildings were in use as a hydropathic establishment. Covered by the Grade 2 listing, the assembly hall has a fine plastered ceiling depicting the four muses and has full stage facilities.
The gymnasium wing was very extensively altered in the 1920's. Indeed much of the interior of the original two storey building was removed to create the school gymnasium. The external elevations, however, still feature many stone details and the original gothic windows.
In 1974 the present 11 - 19 coeducational comprehensive school was created by merging the existing Moseley Boys Grammar School, Wake Green Road, with Moseley Mixed Secondary School on the College Road site. Building changes were minimal, mainly girls' toilet provision and steps to join the two adjacent sites. Both schools were well-esteemed and amalgamation quickly produced a popular comprehensive school.
Moseley School is a large co-educational comprehensive some 3 miles South East of the centre of Birmingham. It is on the boundary of Moseley, Sparkhill and Hall Green wards, positioned precisely on the current edge of inner and outer suburbs. The outer circle bus route is a short distance away. A major consequence of the location is a great social mix within the catchment area, illustrated by major variations in housing types and costs around the perimeter of the site although the majority of the schools students come from within the wards of Sparkhill and Sparkbrook.
The site is bounded by 3 roads. The main entrance is from College Road, a fairly narrow one between houses from a busy road. Springfield Road is quieter, though like College Road a bus route, and provides a pedestrian entrance only. It is along Wake Green Road, with its two vehicular entrances, that the school has significant frontage onto a road - elsewhere it is gardens or allotments. The relatively spacious site, with integral playing fields, has many mature trees. There is a very substantial slope down from Wake Green Road which has significant effects for building and for movement around the site, especially in adverse weather conditions.
The location of Moseley School provides differing communities in close proximity. From the successful amalgamation of two separate schools the 9 f.e. intake was oversubscribed until well into the 1980's. First choices continue to fill some 7 f.e. of the intake.. Sixth form numbers been graetly supported by the schools progress in the area of GNVQ where the school is a Notional leader in developments. There is currently a 3:1 imbalance i.e. in the ratio of boys to girls and the pupil population is predominantly Asian. Despite the changes, high standards of conduct and academic achievement are maintained and the school is noted for a friendly atmosphere and considerate relationships. The Sixth form consists overwhelmingly of pupils from Moseley's Year 11 though a small number join, and flourish equally, from other 11-16 schools.
The previous histories were markedly different. The Boys Grammar School dates from 1923, founded with 90 boys in the premises built in 1838 as a college for students in the Congregational Ministry. These college buildings now constitute the West Wing of Moseley School. The Secondary Modern began as a `Yardley School Board' School in 1900, likewise with some 90 boys, in the buildings now forming Springfield Junior School in College Road. In 1955 Birmingham LEA built Moseley Secondary Modern School.
The Site
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