Redevelopment Project

Last Friday afternoon Katharine and I joined a tour group to look round what was once Clifton Without Junior School, the school where both our daughters spent part of their school lives. A new school was created on a different site combining an infant school and this junior school so that the new school covered education up to the age of 11.

These buildings were closed for a short while in 2011, but were then used by the neighbouring secondary school, though their need for this space had ended by 2016, and it has been little used since then. There were proposals to clear the site and build houses, though strong opposition prevented that from happening. There is now a new proposal to move the local library to this site and create various community facilities, and this has been given approval, with work likely to start early in 2023.

We were guided around and through the building by the project leader and the former headmaster (now retired).

The new scheme will retain the buildings top left and bottom right, but the building between them will be replaced by a new two floor building, and the wing on the left of the top left shot will be cleared, providing a parking area. Some of the land may be later sold for housing.

It was an interesting nostalgic trip, and it was good to meet with the former headmaster and one of the teachers who taught Louise.

As requested by our daughters, I took lots of photos, both inside and outside. I will share a few of the inside in another collage tomorrow.

Ian

[carol white]

Nice that the more attractive buildings are being saved

[Judith Johnson]

What a shame, they look like perfectly useful buildings. Glad some of them are to be re-purposed

[Nina Ganci]

a trip down memory lane is always heartwarming
These are beautiful solid buildings, unfortunately, progress takes over. Glad some are being saved

[Ingrid]

Great pictures! This looks like a great place for a library and community facilities, I hope they follow through!

[Bill Davidson]

Great photos and a fascinating future for the buildings.

[gloria jones]

Wonderful photos and exciting future projects and plans for these buildings

[Pyrrhula]

Geat shots of those nice buildings. Great nogstalgic yourney.

[Christine Sztukowski]

Nice shots thank you for sharing your history

[bkb in the city]

Very nice collage

[Wylie]

It looks a little bleak. Very focused on education perhaps?

[Dione Giorgio]

Very interesting. Though progress is inevitable it is a pity to lose a building like this.

[Paul Williamson]

An excellent record. At least something is being preserved.

[Maria]

Beautiful collage! Very interesting.

[Fisher Family]

@carolmw @busylady @ninaganci @ingy @billdavidson @seattlite @pyrrhula @365projectorgchristine @bkbinthecity @pusspup @sangwann @alfsson @maria03051

Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.

These buildings housed what was a friendly welcoming school. Hopefully some of that atmosphere will carry forward to the new library.

It will be interesting to see what the redevelopment looks like when it is completed.

Ian

[Kathy A]

Let’s hope the plans are carried out as has been decided

[Fisher Family]

@kjarn

Well, planning permission has been granted, and funding allocated. Work is due to start in early 2023, so we will see!

[Vesna]

I think the plan is good!

[Fisher Family]

@vesna0210

I agree - such a shame if older buildings are demolished. I'm looking forward to seeing what the redevelopment looks like when it's finished.

Ian