Embedded Files
Plans
Although no actual plans have been discovered of the school’s internal layout in its early years, the plans shown here are an attempt to show its geography from about the late 1930s until the early 1950s. HMI reports of 1936 and 1949 contain important details relating to the premises in terms of the number of classrooms and other facilities. A number of screens and partitions were erected – some permanent, others temporary – in order to create rooms and maximise the space in the building. As can be seen from the plans, this sometimes led to access to a room being through another classroom. The classrooms are drawn to scale and the plans, though incomplete and deficient in certain details, give a realistic impression of the school’s layout from a pupil’s viewpoint.
Ground-floor plan (late 1930s, ‘40s and early ‘50s)
Comments
Hall used for assemblies, musical and dramatic productions, concerts, Masses, music and other subject lessons and, from about 1940, P.T. lessons.
Gym used until 1940. Following the effects of bombing raids during the war, it was deemed to be unsafe for use.
Back entrance was through an archway that led into Leonard Terrace.
No corridor by woodwork rooms.
Tuck shop in caretaker’s quarters; it was run by Mrs Dinah Wilson.
Derelict buildings included former workshops of the Industrial School; they were sometimes dangerous and were declared out of bounds for boys.
Boiler room below the Hall gave off offensive fumes which seeped upwards into other parts of the building.
Boys’ toilets were outside and unroofed, apart from the seated cubicles.
First-floor plan, from late 1930s
Second-floor plan, from late 1930s
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