This place was really well hidden. Me and Gabe walked past it a few times until we noticed the old tattered TREETOPS SCHOOL sign obscured behind some overgrown trees. Was nice and fun getting in and made an interesting explore - it looks like nothing’s changed since its last day of opening in 2008 (apart from someone having a little accident with the paint in one of the classrooms).
Was a little strange when we first walked in cos all the lights were on but we carried on anyway. After about an hour, secca paid us a visit and we were out. Just in time really cos he opened up the gate for us so we had a nice easy exit!
Treetops is a day school for children and young people between the ages of 3 and 19 who experience moderate learning difficulties. The school operates a special VB or Verbal Behavior nursery for children on the autistic spectrum and is the first state school in the UK to be adopting these teaching methods. Treetops School started its activities in 1960 at its old location in Dell Road, Grays. The Elms was originally a mansion set in extensive grounds at the top of Dell Road, Grays in Essex. Next to it was a house called The Dell which was owned by a famous botanist Alfred William Russell, who was associated with Charles Darwin in proposing the theory of evolution. A Mr Walsham, head of a building firm, built his family a modern home on part of the land and the original building was taken over by Essex Education Committee and housed 60 delicate children. A difficulty occurred when Mr Walsham called his new house “The Elms†also. So in 1960 permission had to be granted by the Minister of Education for the name of the school to be changed to “Treetopsâ€.
Was a little strange when we first walked in cos all the lights were on but we carried on anyway. After about an hour, secca paid us a visit and we were out. Just in time really cos he opened up the gate for us so we had a nice easy exit!
Treetops is a day school for children and young people between the ages of 3 and 19 who experience moderate learning difficulties. The school operates a special VB or Verbal Behavior nursery for children on the autistic spectrum and is the first state school in the UK to be adopting these teaching methods. Treetops School started its activities in 1960 at its old location in Dell Road, Grays. The Elms was originally a mansion set in extensive grounds at the top of Dell Road, Grays in Essex. Next to it was a house called The Dell which was owned by a famous botanist Alfred William Russell, who was associated with Charles Darwin in proposing the theory of evolution. A Mr Walsham, head of a building firm, built his family a modern home on part of the land and the original building was taken over by Essex Education Committee and housed 60 delicate children. A difficulty occurred when Mr Walsham called his new house “The Elms†also. So in 1960 permission had to be granted by the Minister of Education for the name of the school to be changed to “Treetopsâ€.