A Visit to Randal Cremer 3rd January 2024 (Part One)

 

Today Nicki and I went to conduct a recce for a London walk around Hoxton.  We were near where she did her teaching practice, so we walked over to look at the school, Thomas Fairchild, not far from Pitfield Street.  We were surprised to see that the original building was no more and that the site is now occupied by a brand new school.  It turns out that the school was destroyed by fire in 2009.  This led to further discussion about Randal Cremer School (RC) and the London School Board so we made a diversion to look at RC again.

We were very pleased that we did.  The school is still closed for the Christmas holidays.   As we were looking through the fence the Site Manager (Iain) saw us and came over for a chat.  It seems like the old caretaker’s house no longer performs its original role and is used as a teaching facility.  He updated us on the impact of the school closure plans and spoke about the great work done by the staff under the leadership of the current head.  On hearing that I was an old pupil he escorted us on a tour of the school, giving up a lot of his time.   He was clearly very proud of the institution and was interested to hear about aspects of the school’s past.  The decision to close the school has had a very negative effect on the whole community.

While we were there he unearthed some old admission registers and photographs.  The Great War Roll of Honour is displayed in the Hall.  The admission registers had a couple of familiar names but I did not recognise anybody in the photograph albums which were not dated (I would guess they were from the early 1960s).

I was surprised at how many original features of the school have survived.  My comment in the earlier blog about the standard of the construction appears to have been an accurate one.

The original designated entrances for BOYS, GIRLS and INFANTS. (Photo Jan 2024)

A feature of LSB Schools were the open areas that could be used as classrooms, for assemblies and performances and as gyms.  RC has three such spaces and another has been converted into a fine ICT suite and library.  The floors are of high quality wood which was re-polished each summer resulting in a very distinctive smell at the beginning of the Autumn term.  (Photo Jan 2024)

The LSB architect understood that schools sustain a lot of wear.  Stairwells are particularly prone to damage as school children walk (never running!) up and down the stairs.  The use of glazed tiles in the distinctive brown of municipal Victorian England now looks old fashioned but as a feature it has served its purpose well.  Off course I am not qualified to say with certainty that the tiling is an original feature, but if its not it I imagine that it was an early addition.  (Photo Jan 2024)

The classrooms have shown themselves to be very flexible over the years, being adapted to the needs of  educational practice in each generation.  They are light and warm.  Both features that would have been enjoyed by boys and girls in one of the very poor areas of London.  The admiring primary school teacher in the photograph is not thought to be original! (Photo Jan 2024)

The school was heated by a fireplace in every classroom.  This example is covered by a metal plate which bears the insignia of the London School Board suggesting that it was installed before the winding up of the Board in 1904.  (Photo Jan 2024)

Very few primary schools can boast such a fine war memorial.  The names in red are of old boys who lost their lives in the First World War.  The book also records the names of boys and staff who served in HM Forces 1914-1919.  Note the badge of the London County Council.  (Photo Jan 2024)

End of Part One

(03 January 2024)