書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)布局因地制宜,門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)樓座(zuo)(zuo)西朝東(取紫氣(qi)東來之(zhi)意),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)層(ceng),高(gao)約(yue)10米(mi)(mi),青磚(zhuan)(zhuan)砌(qi)(qi)筑,鑊(huo)蓋耳,風(feng)火山墻(qiang),綠簡瓦,灰塑瓦脊,綠琉(liu)璃(li)瓦剪邊,門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)上(shang)(shang)石(shi)(shi)額(e)“何家祠(ci)道”。過(guo)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)樓為(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)庭(ting)(ting)園(yuan),面(mian)(mian)積(ji)約(yue)140平方(fang)(fang)(fang)米(mi)(mi)。庭(ting)(ting)園(yuan)南(nan)面(mian)(mian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)照壁,北(bei)面(mian)(mian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)主體建(jian)(jian)筑正(zheng)(zheng)祠(ci)及兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)書(shu)(shu)一(yi)(yi)舍(she)(she)。正(zheng)(zheng)祠(ci)座(zuo)(zuo)北(bei)朝南(nan),為(wei)(wei)(wei)三(san)進(jin)式。前(qian)(qian)座(zuo)(zuo)頭(tou)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men),寬11.75米(mi)(mi),深(shen)(shen)構7.5米(mi)(mi),為(wei)(wei)(wei)面(mian)(mian)寬三(san)間(jian)。步上(shang)(shang)三(san)臺(tai)(tai)石(shi)(shi)階,有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)般祠(ci)堂所常(chang)見(jian)的(de)方(fang)(fang)(fang)形(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)麻石(shi)(shi)平臺(tai)(tai),進(jin)2米(mi)(mi)后(hou)(hou)至(zhi)大(da)(da)(da)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men),門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)上(shang)(shang)有(you)(you)花(hua)崗巖(yan)石(shi)(shi)額(e),上(shang)(shang)刻“廬(lu)(lu)江書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)”(見(jian)圖片)。中(zhong)墻(qiang)上(shang)(shang)端有(you)(you)“必得(de)其壽”彩繪(hui),頭(tou)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)后(hou)(hou)亦有(you)(you)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)根(gen)方(fang)(fang)(fang)形(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),并以中(zhong)心分墻(qiang)分別(bie)(bie)承重(zhong)(zhong)十三(san)梁(liang)架。墻(qiang)體為(wei)(wei)(wei)水磨青磚(zhuan)(zhuan)對縫砌(qi)(qi)筑,墀頭(tou)處有(you)(you)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)雕,綠琉(liu)璃(li)瓦下(xia)有(you)(you)漆(qi)金(jin)木(mu)(mu)雕橫(heng)披,硬山頂上(shang)(shang)正(zheng)(zheng)脊為(wei)(wei)(wei)博古灰塑瓦脊。整(zheng)座(zuo)(zuo)頭(tou)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)莊嚴而華麗。頭(tou)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)井長約(yue)7.5米(mi)(mi),左(zuo)右(you)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)皆(jie)(jie)有(you)(you)廊廡(wu)(wu)。二座(zuo)(zuo)中(zhong)堂闊(kuo)11.8米(mi)(mi),進(jin)深(shen)(shen)8.8米(mi)(mi),前(qian)(qian)后(hou)(hou)各有(you)(you)4根(gen)方(fang)(fang)(fang)形(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),堂中(zhong)亦有(you)(you)4根(gen)直徑10厘米(mi)(mi)的(de)坤甸木(mu)(mu)柱(zhu),托(tuo)起十三(san)架梁(liang)。堂前(qian)(qian)后(hou)(hou)皆(jie)(jie)有(you)(you)出卷棚廊及接(jie)天井的(de)廊廡(wu)(wu)。前(qian)(qian)廊架雕博古紋飾,古樸莊重(zhong)(zhong),堂內施金(jin)線形(xing)通(tong)花(hua)木(mu)(mu)雕橫(heng)披,華貴、精巧,整(zheng)座(zuo)(zuo)中(zhong)堂給人(ren)以華美、尊貴、通(tong)透明亮之(zhi)感。中(zhong)堂后(hou)(hou)的(de)天井約(yue)6米(mi)(mi)長,兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊廊廡(wu)(wu)嵌有(you)(you)南(nan)宋(song)至(zhi)清廣東何氏宗族世系及鼎建(jian)(jian)、重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)廬(lu)(lu)江書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)的(de)12方(fang)(fang)(fang)碑刻。過(guo)天井則至(zhi)三(san)座(zuo)(zuo)后(hou)(hou)堂。后(hou)(hou)堂于三(san)座(zuo)(zuo)最為(wei)(wei)(wei)高(gao)大(da)(da)(da),寬、深(shen)(shen)各12米(mi)(mi),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)風(feng)火山墻(qiang)高(gao)13米(mi)(mi),進(jin)深(shen)(shen)亦各三(san)間(jian),堂前(qian)(qian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)2根(gen)方(fang)(fang)(fang)形(xing)石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),堂內4根(gen)坤甸大(da)(da)(da)柱(zhu),堂后(hou)(hou)的(de)墻(qiang)壁上(shang)(shang)供奉著祭(ji)(ji)祀(si)神龕(kan)。整(zheng)座(zuo)(zuo)大(da)(da)(da)堂,高(gao)大(da)(da)(da)、寬敞、肅穆,是舉行重(zhong)(zhong)大(da)(da)(da)祭(ji)(ji)典的(de)場所。書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)主體建(jian)(jian)筑兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)東、西書(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she),以青云(yun)(yun)巷與(yu)天井廊廡(wu)(wu)有(you)(you)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)相通(tong)。東面(mian)(mian)書(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)一(yi)(yi)排(pai)9間(jian),魁(kui)(kui)樓一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)(zuo)。西面(mian)(mian)書(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)三(san)排(pai)共(gong)25間(jian),其余(yu)書(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)房(fang)間(jian)共(gong)12間(jian),舍(she)(she)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)石(shi)(shi)額(e)分別(bie)(bie)刻有(you)(you)各縣、鄉名稱(cheng),如(ru)“新(xin)會房(fang)”、“恩平房(fang)”、“龍塘房(fang)”等(deng)有(you)(you)43間(jian)。其余(yu)皆(jie)(jie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)附(fu)祠(ci)用房(fang)。東側(ce)書(shu)(shu)舍(she)(she)內有(you)(you)魁(kui)(kui)星樓,亦稱(cheng)“登云(yun)(yun)樓”,樓寬4.3米(mi)(mi),深(shen)(shen)4.5米(mi)(mi),高(gao)三(san)層(ceng),鑊(huo)耳狀風(feng)火山墻(qiang),正(zheng)(zheng)脊置琉(liu)璃(li)鏊(ao)魚寶(bao)珠(zhu),墻(qiang)體上(shang)(shang)嵌有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)額(e)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)幅(fu),上(shang)(shang)塊(kuai)題“文光射斗”,下(xia)塊(kuai)曰“登云(yun)(yun)”。1993年修(xiu)(xiu)繕時重(zhong)(zhong)砌(qi)(qi)樓閣,把魁(kui)(kui)星樓改(gai)為(wei)(wei)(wei)平頂樓。
廬江書(shu)院(yuan),始(shi)建(jian)于清(qing)嘉慶(qing)十(shi)三年(1808),占(zhan)地(di)1722平(ping)方(fang)米。書(shu)院(yuan)曾于道光、光緒年間兩度重(zhong)修,其中,光緒年間的重(zhong)修,耗費白(bai)銀二萬多兩,書(shu)院(yuan)建(jian)筑(zhu)之秀美(mei)和(he)裝飾之細膩(ni)仍令人稱嘆。曾是清(qing)代(dai)省內何氏家族子弟(di)來廣州赴考時飲(yin)食起(qi)居和(he)溫(wen)習(xi)讀書(shu)之地(di)。該書(shu)院(yuan)書(shu)舍(she)為三排以(yi)及南面個別書(shu)舍(she)(占(zhan)地(di)約1300平(ping)方(fang)米),整(zheng)(zheng)體建(jian)筑(zhu)是大小(xiao)馬(ma)站、流(liu)水井宗族(祠)書(shu)院(yuan)群中保存相(xiang)對完整(zheng)(zheng)的宗族(祠)書(shu)院(yuan)之一。
廬江書院,1993年被(bei)廣(guang)州市人(ren)民政(zheng)府公布(bu)為(wei)文物保護單位。
廬(lu)(lu)江(jiang)書(shu)院(yuan),是近代廣府(fu)(fu)何氏(shi)的圖騰標(biao)志,是何氏(shi)先輩在(zai)清朝聯合廣州府(fu)(fu)及肇(zhao)慶府(fu)(fu)的何氏(shi)村落打造的“合族祠書(shu)院(yuan)建筑”。本書(shu)院(yuan)保存(cun)完整,在(zai)中國的明(ming)清書(shu)院(yuan)中具(ju)有(you)代表性(xing),也有(you)較(jiao)高(gao)的歷(li)史(shi)研究價值(zhi),其建造模(mo)式(shi)及運營模(mo)式(shi)在(zai)中國的書(shu)院(yuan)群里也別具(ju)特色。廬(lu)(lu)江(jiang)書(shu)院(yuan)為國家民族輸送過很多(duo)愛國志士,杰出英才。
自乾(qian)隆(long)后期(qi)(qi)至嘉慶年(nian)間,是廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)科舉考試.日漸(jian)繁盛的(de)(de)時期(qi)(qi),亦(yi)是官學(xue)興盛時期(qi)(qi)。乾(qian)隆(long)五十六年(nian)(1791),廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)府集銀(yin)(yin)41000多兩(liang)(liang)重修廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)府學(xue)宮(gong)(今廣(guang)(guang)州(zhou)(zhou)市第一工人(ren)文化宮(gong),簡稱市一宮(gong));嘉慶八年(nian)(1803)廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)布政使(shi)康基(ji)田在龍藏街(jie)改嶺南(nan)義(yi)學(xue)為(wei)羊石書院(后為(wei)府級的(de)(de)羊城書院),又撥府銀(yin)(yin)將位(wei)于今鹽運西街(jie)一帶的(de)(de)南(nan)海義(yi)學(xue)改為(wei)西湖書院。有名(ming)的(de)(de)官辦書院,如粵秀書院以前不收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)生,此時亦(yi)增收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)生員(yuan)40人(ren),童(tong)(tong)生10人(ren)(這(zhe)些外(wai)宿的(de)(de)諸生每月均可領取1.8兩(liang)(liang)膏火費(fei),即生活(huo)補助費(fei)和(he)(he)有參加(jia)官、師(shi)課(ke)考的(de)(de)獎銀(yin)(yin)),越華書院正(zheng)課(ke)生額亦(yi)從30名(ming)增加(jia)到(dao)80至100名(ming),又增收(shou)外(wai)課(ke)生員(yuan)36名(ming)和(he)(he)童(tong)(tong)生24名(ming)。倘若(ruo)遇上(shang)鄉試之年(nian),這(zhe)些官辦書院還額外(wai)招收(shou)正(zheng)課(ke)生、外(wai)課(ke)生和(he)(he)附(fu)課(ke)生。
所(suo)以,大小馬站(zhan)、流水井(jing)一帶,很(hen)多省內大姓宗(zong)(zong)(zong)族(zu),多在嘉慶年間創建宗(zong)(zong)(zong)族(zu)(祠)書院(yuan),以助本(ben)族(zu)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)人到(dao)省城赴考爭取功(gong)名(ming),省內何氏(shi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)族(zu)為(wei)了(le)方便本(ben)族(zu)子弟到(dao)省城應試,于(yu)是創建了(le)這所(suo)廬(lu)江書院(yuan),并(bing)相應制定了(le)很(hen)多規矩。