ðə bˈɪldɪŋ wʌz kəmplˈiːɾᵻd ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks ænd ˈoʊpənd ˌɔn twˈɛlv dʒˈænjuːˌɛɹi wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, wɪð ɹˈuːm fɔːɹ wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi bˈɔɪz æt ðə nˈɔːɹðɚn ˈɛnd, wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti ɡˈɜːlz æt ðə sˈʌðɚn ˈɛnd ænd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi ˈɪnfənts ɪnðə sˈɛntɚ.
The building was completed in 1896 and opened on 12 January 1897, with room for 140 boys at the northern end, 120 girls at the southern end and 140 infants in the centre.