The New School Butterstone, Perthshire

The New School Butterstone was established to help educationally fragile children to fulfil their academic potential within a secure environment. As the number of students grew additional classrooms were urgently needed, as well as a properly equipped laboratory.

Simpson & Brown were commissioned to convert a stable block, ideally placed behind the school, to new classrooms and a laboratory. It was a vernacular building which was fundamentally sound although dilapidated. It had not been used for stabling for decades and was in use as a workshop and store.

Repairs were made to the foundations, roof, rhones, drains and woodwork and a new floor installed. The ceiling was lowered creating an upper storey to accommodate two new classrooms and a cloakroom with a laboratory and small classroom below.

As well as providing much-needed classroom space, this conversion restored a charming stable building of real intrinsic

worth which would otherwise have decayed beyond repair.