書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)布局因地制宜,門(men)(men)樓座(zuo)西朝東(dong)(取紫氣東(dong)來之意),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)層,高(gao)約(yue)10米(mi)(mi),青磚砌(qi)筑(zhu),鑊(huo)蓋(gai)耳,風火(huo)山墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),綠簡瓦(wa),灰(hui)塑(su)瓦(wa)脊,綠琉璃瓦(wa)剪(jian)邊,門(men)(men)上(shang)石(shi)(shi)額(e)“何(he)家祠道”。過門(men)(men)樓為(wei)(wei)一(yi)(yi)庭園(yuan),面積約(yue)140平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)。庭園(yuan)南(nan)面為(wei)(wei)照壁,北面為(wei)(wei)書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)主體(ti)建筑(zhu)正(zheng)祠及(ji)(ji)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)(ce)書(shu)(shu)(shu)一(yi)(yi)舍。正(zheng)祠座(zuo)北朝南(nan),為(wei)(wei)三(san)(san)(san)(san)進式。前(qian)(qian)座(zuo)頭(tou)(tou)門(men)(men),寬11.75米(mi)(mi),深(shen)(shen)構7.5米(mi)(mi),為(wei)(wei)面寬三(san)(san)(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)。步上(shang)三(san)(san)(san)(san)臺石(shi)(shi)階,有(you)一(yi)(yi)般祠堂(tang)所常見(jian)的(de)方形石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)(ce)為(wei)(wei)麻石(shi)(shi)平(ping)臺,進2米(mi)(mi)后至(zhi)大(da)(da)(da)門(men)(men),門(men)(men)上(shang)有(you)花(hua)崗巖石(shi)(shi)額(e),上(shang)刻“廬(lu)江書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)”(見(jian)圖片)。中(zhong)(zhong)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)上(shang)端有(you)“必得(de)其壽”彩繪,頭(tou)(tou)門(men)(men)后亦(yi)(yi)有(you)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)根(gen)方形石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),并以中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)分墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)分別承(cheng)重(zhong)十三(san)(san)(san)(san)梁(liang)架(jia)。墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體(ti)為(wei)(wei)水磨青磚對(dui)縫砌(qi)筑(zhu),墀頭(tou)(tou)處有(you)磚雕(diao),綠琉璃瓦(wa)下(xia)有(you)漆金木雕(diao)橫(heng)披(pi),硬山頂上(shang)正(zheng)脊為(wei)(wei)博古(gu)灰(hui)塑(su)瓦(wa)脊。整座(zuo)頭(tou)(tou)門(men)(men)莊(zhuang)嚴而華麗。頭(tou)(tou)門(men)(men)井(jing)長約(yue)7.5米(mi)(mi),左右兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)(ce)皆有(you)廊(lang)廡(wu)。二座(zuo)中(zhong)(zhong)堂(tang)闊11.8米(mi)(mi),進深(shen)(shen)8.8米(mi)(mi),前(qian)(qian)后各有(you)4根(gen)方形石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),堂(tang)中(zhong)(zhong)亦(yi)(yi)有(you)4根(gen)直徑10厘(li)米(mi)(mi)的(de)坤甸木柱(zhu),托起十三(san)(san)(san)(san)架(jia)梁(liang)。堂(tang)前(qian)(qian)后皆有(you)出卷棚(peng)廊(lang)及(ji)(ji)接天(tian)(tian)井(jing)的(de)廊(lang)廡(wu)。前(qian)(qian)廊(lang)架(jia)雕(diao)博古(gu)紋飾,古(gu)樸莊(zhuang)重(zhong),堂(tang)內(nei)施金線形通(tong)花(hua)木雕(diao)橫(heng)披(pi),華貴、精巧,整座(zuo)中(zhong)(zhong)堂(tang)給人以華美、尊貴、通(tong)透明(ming)亮之感。中(zhong)(zhong)堂(tang)后的(de)天(tian)(tian)井(jing)約(yue)6米(mi)(mi)長,兩(liang)(liang)(liang)邊廊(lang)廡(wu)嵌有(you)南(nan)宋至(zhi)清廣東(dong)何(he)氏宗族世系及(ji)(ji)鼎建、重(zhong)修廬(lu)江書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)的(de)12方碑刻。過天(tian)(tian)井(jing)則至(zhi)三(san)(san)(san)(san)座(zuo)后堂(tang)。后堂(tang)于三(san)(san)(san)(san)座(zuo)最為(wei)(wei)高(gao)大(da)(da)(da),寬、深(shen)(shen)各12米(mi)(mi),兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)(ce)風火(huo)山墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)高(gao)13米(mi)(mi),進深(shen)(shen)亦(yi)(yi)各三(san)(san)(san)(san)間(jian)(jian),堂(tang)前(qian)(qian)為(wei)(wei)2根(gen)方形石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu),堂(tang)內(nei)4根(gen)坤甸大(da)(da)(da)柱(zhu),堂(tang)后的(de)墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)壁上(shang)供奉著祭祀(si)神龕(kan)。整座(zuo)大(da)(da)(da)堂(tang),高(gao)大(da)(da)(da)、寬敞、肅穆,是舉行重(zhong)大(da)(da)(da)祭典的(de)場所。書(shu)(shu)(shu)院(yuan)主體(ti)建筑(zhu)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)側(ce)(ce)為(wei)(wei)東(dong)、西書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍,以青云(yun)巷與(yu)天(tian)(tian)井(jing)廊(lang)廡(wu)有(you)門(men)(men)相通(tong)。東(dong)面書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍一(yi)(yi)排(pai)9間(jian)(jian),魁(kui)樓一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)。西面書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍三(san)(san)(san)(san)排(pai)共25間(jian)(jian),其余書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍房間(jian)(jian)共12間(jian)(jian),舍門(men)(men)石(shi)(shi)額(e)分別刻有(you)各縣、鄉(xiang)名稱(cheng),如(ru)“新(xin)會房”、“恩平(ping)房”、“龍(long)塘房”等(deng)有(you)43間(jian)(jian)。其余皆為(wei)(wei)附(fu)祠用房。東(dong)側(ce)(ce)書(shu)(shu)(shu)舍內(nei)有(you)魁(kui)星樓,亦(yi)(yi)稱(cheng)“登云(yun)樓”,樓寬4.3米(mi)(mi),深(shen)(shen)4.5米(mi)(mi),高(gao)三(san)(san)(san)(san)層,鑊(huo)耳狀風火(huo)山墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang),正(zheng)脊置琉璃鏊魚寶(bao)珠,墻(qiang)(qiang)(qiang)體(ti)上(shang)嵌有(you)石(shi)(shi)額(e)兩(liang)(liang)(liang)幅,上(shang)塊(kuai)題(ti)“文光射(she)斗”,下(xia)塊(kuai)曰“登云(yun)”。1993年修繕時重(zhong)砌(qi)樓閣,把魁(kui)星樓改為(wei)(wei)平(ping)頂樓。
廬江書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan),始建于(yu)清(qing)嘉慶十三(san)年(1808),占(zhan)地1722平方米。書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)曾于(yu)道光(guang)、光(guang)緒年間兩度(du)重(zhong)修,其中,光(guang)緒年間的(de)重(zhong)修,耗費白銀二萬多兩,書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)建筑(zhu)之(zhi)秀美和(he)裝飾(shi)之(zhi)細(xi)膩仍令人(ren)稱嘆。曾是清(qing)代(dai)省內何氏家族(zu)(zu)子弟來(lai)廣(guang)州赴(fu)考時飲食起居和(he)溫習(xi)讀書(shu)(shu)之(zhi)地。該書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)書(shu)(shu)舍為三(san)排以(yi)及南面個別書(shu)(shu)舍(占(zhan)地約1300平方米),整體(ti)建筑(zhu)是大小馬(ma)站、流水井宗族(zu)(zu)(祠)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)群中保存相對完整的(de)宗族(zu)(zu)(祠)書(shu)(shu)院(yuan)(yuan)之(zhi)一。
廬江書院,1993年被廣州(zhou)市(shi)人民政府公布為文物保護單位。
廬江書院(yuan),是近代廣府何氏(shi)的(de)圖騰標志,是何氏(shi)先輩在清朝聯合廣州府及肇(zhao)慶府的(de)何氏(shi)村落打造(zao)的(de)“合族祠書院(yuan)建筑”。本(ben)書院(yuan)保存完整(zheng),在中(zhong)國(guo)的(de)明(ming)清書院(yuan)中(zhong)具有(you)代表性,也有(you)較(jiao)高的(de)歷(li)史(shi)研究價值,其建造(zao)模式(shi)及運營模式(shi)在中(zhong)國(guo)的(de)書院(yuan)群里也別(bie)具特色(se)。廬江書院(yuan)為國(guo)家民族輸送過很(hen)多(duo)愛國(guo)志士,杰出(chu)英才。
自乾隆后期至(zhi)嘉(jia)慶年(nian)間,是(shi)(shi)廣東科舉考(kao)試.日漸繁盛的(de)時期,亦(yi)是(shi)(shi)官(guan)學興盛時期。乾隆五十六年(nian)(1791),廣州府(fu)集銀41000多兩(liang)重修廣州府(fu)學宮(gong)(今廣州市第一工人(ren)文(wen)化宮(gong),簡稱市一宮(gong));嘉(jia)慶八(ba)年(nian)(1803)廣東布政使(shi)康基田(tian)在龍藏街(jie)(jie)改嶺南義學為羊石書(shu)院(yuan)(后為府(fu)級的(de)羊城書(shu)院(yuan)),又撥府(fu)銀將位于今鹽運西(xi)街(jie)(jie)一帶的(de)南海義學改為西(xi)湖書(shu)院(yuan)。有名(ming)的(de)官(guan)辦書(shu)院(yuan),如粵秀書(shu)院(yuan)以前不收外課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng),此時亦(yi)增(zeng)(zeng)收外課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)40人(ren),童生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)10人(ren)(這(zhe)些(xie)外宿的(de)諸生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)每(mei)月均可領取1.8兩(liang)膏火費,即(ji)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)活補助費和(he)有參加官(guan)、師課考(kao)的(de)獎(jiang)銀),越(yue)華(hua)書(shu)院(yuan)正課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)額亦(yi)從30名(ming)增(zeng)(zeng)加到80至(zhi)100名(ming),又增(zeng)(zeng)收外課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)36名(ming)和(he)童生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)24名(ming)。倘若遇上鄉(xiang)試之年(nian),這(zhe)些(xie)官(guan)辦書(shu)院(yuan)還額外招收正課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)、外課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)和(he)附課生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)。
所以,大小馬站(zhan)、流水井(jing)一帶,很多省(sheng)內大姓(xing)宗(zong)(zong)族(zu),多在嘉慶年(nian)間創(chuang)建宗(zong)(zong)族(zu)(祠)書(shu)院(yuan),以助本族(zu)宗(zong)(zong)人到(dao)省(sheng)城赴考爭取(qu)功名,省(sheng)內何氏(shi)宗(zong)(zong)族(zu)為了方便本族(zu)子弟到(dao)省(sheng)城應試,于是創(chuang)建了這所廬江書(shu)院(yuan),并(bing)相應制定(ding)了很多規矩(ju)。