1. The History
Pyebank Board School was designed by the architects Innocent and Brown and opened in 1875 (as can be seen for the date-stone picture below) during the reign of Queen Victoria to provide places for children under the Education Bill. It was officially opened on 1st December by Mrs Mark Firth with a large golden key set with jewels in the presence of Sir John Brown and Viscount Sandon. It was divided into three; the Infants’ department, and separate Boys and Girls junior departments each of which had their own headteacher and their own part of the school. Mr Champley took over as head of the Boys’ School, holding the position until his death in 1911 which brought to an end a 36-year period of service!
In 1883 two new wings were built on the north side of the main building providing eight larger rooms, but the population growth continued to outstrip provision.
In 1930 the school operated with Infants downstairs and the junior boys and girls upstairs. The two junior departments were amalgamated in 1936 as Pye Bank Junior Mixed School under one headteacher. In December 1940 the school suffered bomb damage and was closed for five months whilst the roof was repaired. Many of the pupils were evacuated to Lincolnshire where they were accompanied and taught by some of their own teachers.
After the war Sheffield continued to grow and the school became overcrowded once more. In the 1970s mobile classrooms took up much of the playground space. In 2003 the school was moved to a new, purpose-built building on Andover Street, built on the former St Catherine's RC Primary School site. The building is now Grade II listed (along with the adjacent caretaker's building). It stands in an exposed position on the hillside with sweeping views across the city. The future of the building remains unclear at the present date with no plans for its renovation or conversion.
2. The Explore
A walk in at the time, in one of the rougher ends of Sheffield. Probably didn’t post this back at the time because I didn’t think it was that interesting. Or maybe I wasn’t happy with my pictures due to the poor light or it was down to the relatively poor standards of the graff. It was certainly very derpy and in some ways, prettier on the outside than the inside. It stands really prominently but not been up there for some time. Not too sure what the current state of play is with this place, but not seen any new reports for four or five years.
3. The Pictures
Some externals first:
i
The former kitchen:
Nice old cast-iron fireplace:
A bit of Coloquix - the only half-decent bit of graff:
Don’t smoke kids!
Up-stairs we go:
Even more derpy:
Back out again and looking back over Sheffield towards Canon Brewery:
Pyebank Board School was designed by the architects Innocent and Brown and opened in 1875 (as can be seen for the date-stone picture below) during the reign of Queen Victoria to provide places for children under the Education Bill. It was officially opened on 1st December by Mrs Mark Firth with a large golden key set with jewels in the presence of Sir John Brown and Viscount Sandon. It was divided into three; the Infants’ department, and separate Boys and Girls junior departments each of which had their own headteacher and their own part of the school. Mr Champley took over as head of the Boys’ School, holding the position until his death in 1911 which brought to an end a 36-year period of service!
In 1883 two new wings were built on the north side of the main building providing eight larger rooms, but the population growth continued to outstrip provision.
In 1930 the school operated with Infants downstairs and the junior boys and girls upstairs. The two junior departments were amalgamated in 1936 as Pye Bank Junior Mixed School under one headteacher. In December 1940 the school suffered bomb damage and was closed for five months whilst the roof was repaired. Many of the pupils were evacuated to Lincolnshire where they were accompanied and taught by some of their own teachers.
After the war Sheffield continued to grow and the school became overcrowded once more. In the 1970s mobile classrooms took up much of the playground space. In 2003 the school was moved to a new, purpose-built building on Andover Street, built on the former St Catherine's RC Primary School site. The building is now Grade II listed (along with the adjacent caretaker's building). It stands in an exposed position on the hillside with sweeping views across the city. The future of the building remains unclear at the present date with no plans for its renovation or conversion.
2. The Explore
A walk in at the time, in one of the rougher ends of Sheffield. Probably didn’t post this back at the time because I didn’t think it was that interesting. Or maybe I wasn’t happy with my pictures due to the poor light or it was down to the relatively poor standards of the graff. It was certainly very derpy and in some ways, prettier on the outside than the inside. It stands really prominently but not been up there for some time. Not too sure what the current state of play is with this place, but not seen any new reports for four or five years.
3. The Pictures
Some externals first:
The former kitchen:
Nice old cast-iron fireplace:
A bit of Coloquix - the only half-decent bit of graff:
Don’t smoke kids!
Up-stairs we go:
Even more derpy:
Back out again and looking back over Sheffield towards Canon Brewery:
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