書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)布局因地制(zhi)宜,門(men)樓(lou)座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)西(xi)朝東(dong)(取紫氣東(dong)來(lai)之意),兩(liang)(liang)層,高(gao)約(yue)(yue)10米(mi)(mi),青磚(zhuan)(zhuan)砌(qi)筑(zhu)(zhu),鑊蓋耳,風火山墻,綠簡瓦(wa)(wa),灰塑(su)瓦(wa)(wa)脊(ji),綠琉(liu)璃(li)瓦(wa)(wa)剪(jian)邊,門(men)上(shang)(shang)石(shi)(shi)額“何(he)家(jia)祠(ci)道”。過(guo)門(men)樓(lou)為(wei)(wei)(wei)一庭園,面(mian)積(ji)約(yue)(yue)140平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)。庭園南面(mian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)照壁,北面(mian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)主體(ti)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)正祠(ci)及兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)書(shu)(shu)(shu)一舍(she)(she)。正祠(ci)座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)北朝南,為(wei)(wei)(wei)三(san)進(jin)式。前(qian)座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)頭門(men),寬11.75米(mi)(mi),深(shen)構7.5米(mi)(mi),為(wei)(wei)(wei)面(mian)寬三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。步(bu)上(shang)(shang)三(san)臺(tai)石(shi)(shi)階,有(you)(you)一般祠(ci)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)所(suo)常見(jian)的(de)方形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱,兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)麻(ma)石(shi)(shi)平(ping)臺(tai),進(jin)2米(mi)(mi)后(hou)(hou)至大(da)門(men),門(men)上(shang)(shang)有(you)(you)花崗巖石(shi)(shi)額,上(shang)(shang)刻“廬江書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)”(見(jian)圖片)。中(zhong)墻上(shang)(shang)端(duan)有(you)(you)“必得其壽(shou)”彩繪(hui),頭門(men)后(hou)(hou)亦(yi)有(you)(you)兩(liang)(liang)根(gen)(gen)方形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱,并(bing)以(yi)中(zhong)心分(fen)(fen)墻分(fen)(fen)別(bie)承(cheng)重十三(san)梁架。墻體(ti)為(wei)(wei)(wei)水磨(mo)青磚(zhuan)(zhuan)對縫砌(qi)筑(zhu)(zhu),墀頭處有(you)(you)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)雕,綠琉(liu)璃(li)瓦(wa)(wa)下有(you)(you)漆金木(mu)雕橫披,硬(ying)山頂(ding)上(shang)(shang)正脊(ji)為(wei)(wei)(wei)博古(gu)(gu)灰塑(su)瓦(wa)(wa)脊(ji)。整座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)頭門(men)莊(zhuang)(zhuang)嚴(yan)而華麗。頭門(men)井(jing)長約(yue)(yue)7.5米(mi)(mi),左右兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)皆有(you)(you)廊(lang)廡(wu)(wu)。二座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)中(zhong)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)闊11.8米(mi)(mi),進(jin)深(shen)8.8米(mi)(mi),前(qian)后(hou)(hou)各有(you)(you)4根(gen)(gen)方形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱,堂(tang)(tang)(tang)中(zhong)亦(yi)有(you)(you)4根(gen)(gen)直徑(jing)10厘米(mi)(mi)的(de)坤(kun)甸木(mu)柱,托起十三(san)架梁。堂(tang)(tang)(tang)前(qian)后(hou)(hou)皆有(you)(you)出卷棚廊(lang)及接天井(jing)的(de)廊(lang)廡(wu)(wu)。前(qian)廊(lang)架雕博古(gu)(gu)紋飾(shi),古(gu)(gu)樸莊(zhuang)(zhuang)重,堂(tang)(tang)(tang)內(nei)施金線(xian)形(xing)(xing)通花木(mu)雕橫披,華貴、精巧,整座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)中(zhong)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)給人以(yi)華美、尊貴、通透明亮(liang)之感。中(zhong)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)后(hou)(hou)的(de)天井(jing)約(yue)(yue)6米(mi)(mi)長,兩(liang)(liang)邊廊(lang)廡(wu)(wu)嵌有(you)(you)南宋至清廣東(dong)何(he)氏宗(zong)族世系及鼎建(jian)、重修(xiu)廬江書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)的(de)12方碑刻。過(guo)天井(jing)則至三(san)座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)后(hou)(hou)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)。后(hou)(hou)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)于(yu)三(san)座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)最為(wei)(wei)(wei)高(gao)大(da),寬、深(shen)各12米(mi)(mi),兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)風火山墻高(gao)13米(mi)(mi),進(jin)深(shen)亦(yi)各三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),堂(tang)(tang)(tang)前(qian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)2根(gen)(gen)方形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱,堂(tang)(tang)(tang)內(nei)4根(gen)(gen)坤(kun)甸大(da)柱,堂(tang)(tang)(tang)后(hou)(hou)的(de)墻壁上(shang)(shang)供奉著祭(ji)祀神(shen)龕。整座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)大(da)堂(tang)(tang)(tang),高(gao)大(da)、寬敞、肅穆,是(shi)舉行重大(da)祭(ji)典的(de)場所(suo)。書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)主體(ti)建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)東(dong)、西(xi)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she),以(yi)青云巷與天井(jing)廊(lang)廡(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)門(men)相通。東(dong)面(mian)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)一排9間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),魁(kui)樓(lou)一座(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)(zuo)。西(xi)面(mian)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)三(san)排共(gong)25間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),其余(yu)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)房(fang)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)共(gong)12間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),舍(she)(she)門(men)石(shi)(shi)額分(fen)(fen)別(bie)刻有(you)(you)各縣、鄉(xiang)名(ming)稱,如“新(xin)會房(fang)”、“恩平(ping)房(fang)”、“龍塘房(fang)”等有(you)(you)43間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。其余(yu)皆為(wei)(wei)(wei)附祠(ci)用房(fang)。東(dong)側(ce)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)內(nei)有(you)(you)魁(kui)星(xing)樓(lou),亦(yi)稱“登(deng)云樓(lou)”,樓(lou)寬4.3米(mi)(mi),深(shen)4.5米(mi)(mi),高(gao)三(san)層,鑊耳狀風火山墻,正脊(ji)置(zhi)琉(liu)璃(li)鏊(ao)魚寶珠,墻體(ti)上(shang)(shang)嵌有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)額兩(liang)(liang)幅,上(shang)(shang)塊題“文(wen)光射斗”,下塊曰“登(deng)云”。1993年修(xiu)繕時(shi)重砌(qi)樓(lou)閣,把魁(kui)星(xing)樓(lou)改為(wei)(wei)(wei)平(ping)頂(ding)樓(lou)。
廬江書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院,始建于清嘉慶十(shi)三年(1808),占地1722平(ping)方米(mi)。書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院曾(ceng)于道光、光緒年間兩度重(zhong)修,其中(zhong),光緒年間的重(zhong)修,耗費白銀二萬多兩,書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院建筑之(zhi)秀美和裝飾之(zhi)細膩仍令人稱嘆(tan)。曾(ceng)是(shi)(shi)清代省內何氏家族(zu)子弟來廣(guang)州赴(fu)考(kao)時飲食起居(ju)和溫習讀書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)之(zhi)地。該書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)為(wei)三排以及南面個別書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)舍(she)(占地約1300平(ping)方米(mi)),整體建筑是(shi)(shi)大小馬站、流水(shui)井宗族(zu)(祠)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院群中(zhong)保(bao)存相(xiang)對完整的宗族(zu)(祠)書(shu)(shu)(shu)(shu)院之(zhi)一(yi)。
廬(lu)江書院,1993年(nian)被廣州市人民政府公布為文物保護單位。
廬江(jiang)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan),是(shi)近代廣府(fu)何(he)氏(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)圖騰標志(zhi)(zhi),是(shi)何(he)氏(shi)先(xian)輩在清朝聯合廣州(zhou)府(fu)及(ji)(ji)肇慶府(fu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)何(he)氏(shi)村落打造(zao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)“合族祠書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)建(jian)(jian)筑”。本書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)保(bao)存完整,在中國的(de)(de)(de)(de)明清書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)中具有代表性,也有較高的(de)(de)(de)(de)歷史(shi)研究(jiu)價值,其建(jian)(jian)造(zao)模式及(ji)(ji)運營模式在中國的(de)(de)(de)(de)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)群里也別具特色。廬江(jiang)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)為(wei)國家民(min)族輸(shu)送過(guo)很多愛國志(zhi)(zhi)士,杰出英(ying)才。
自乾隆(long)后期(qi)(qi)至(zhi)嘉慶(qing)年間(jian),是廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)科舉考試.日漸(jian)繁(fan)盛的時期(qi)(qi),亦是官(guan)學(xue)興盛時期(qi)(qi)。乾隆(long)五(wu)十六(liu)年(1791),廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)府(fu)集銀41000多兩重修廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)府(fu)學(xue)宮(今(jin)廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)市第一工人文化宮,簡稱市一宮);嘉慶(qing)八(ba)年(1803)廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)布政使(shi)康(kang)基田在(zai)龍(long)藏街改嶺南義學(xue)為羊石書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(后為府(fu)級的羊城書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)),又(you)撥府(fu)銀將位于今(jin)鹽運西街一帶的南海義學(xue)改為西湖書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)。有(you)名(ming)(ming)的官(guan)辦(ban)書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan),如粵(yue)秀書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)以前不收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)(ke)(ke)生,此時亦增收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)(ke)(ke)生員(yuan)40人,童生10人(這些(xie)外(wai)宿(su)的諸生每月均可領取1.8兩膏火費,即生活補助(zhu)費和有(you)參加(jia)官(guan)、師課(ke)(ke)(ke)考的獎銀),越華書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)正課(ke)(ke)(ke)生額亦從30名(ming)(ming)增加(jia)到80至(zhi)100名(ming)(ming),又(you)增收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)(ke)(ke)生員(yuan)36名(ming)(ming)和童生24名(ming)(ming)。倘若(ruo)遇(yu)上鄉試之年,這些(xie)官(guan)辦(ban)書院(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)還(huan)額外(wai)招收(shou)正課(ke)(ke)(ke)生、外(wai)課(ke)(ke)(ke)生和附課(ke)(ke)(ke)生。
所以,大(da)小馬站、流水井一(yi)帶(dai),很多(duo)省內大(da)姓宗(zong)族(zu),多(duo)在嘉慶年間創建(jian)(jian)宗(zong)族(zu)(祠)書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan),以助本族(zu)宗(zong)人到省城赴考爭取功名(ming),省內何氏宗(zong)族(zu)為了方(fang)便本族(zu)子弟到省城應(ying)試,于是創建(jian)(jian)了這所廬江書(shu)院(yuan)(yuan),并相(xiang)應(ying)制定了很多(duo)規(gui)矩(ju)。