Aspley Heath School in 1904
Aspley Heath Council School about 1900 [Z251/306/4]
Bedfordshire County Council became Local Education Authority for the county in 1903, following the Education Act 1902. In 1904 the County Surveyor reported on the condition of all the council and voluntary schools in the county under LEA control, excluding those on Bedford and Luton Boroughs which had their own executive arrangements. The surveyor set out his report in the format below.
These are in two blocks, excellent brick, stone, and tiled buildings, of good design and height, well lighted, warmed, and ventilated.
Boys' Girls' and Infants' Front Block
They comprise as under: -
No.1 Cloak Room 20 feet 8 inches by 14 feet.
This is well lighted and ventilated. It has four lavatory basins, a water supply, complete drainage, and ful lequipment.
Large Room 65 feet 5 inches by 19 feet 6 inches.
Lighted by two three-light and four end windows over lobbies.
Ventilated by twelve opening lights, four rarified fresh air inlets, and two Exhaust Ventilators.
Heated by two Manchester open fire stoves and four flues for warm air.
Floor: Part of this is badly worn, viz 65 feet by ten feet.
No.2 Cloak Room
This is exactly similar to No.1
Front Class Room 40 feet by 20 feet 4 inches
Lighted by four large windows.
Ventilated by four openings in windows, three Tobin Tubes, four fresh air inlets, flue, and Exhaust Cowl.
Heated by one open fire, as above, also a Tortoise Stove.
This room is divided by a partly glazed folding partition.
Rear Class Room 40 feet by 20 feet 4 inches.
The notes for the front class room apply to this, eccepting that the opening lights are pivots.
All walls to above rooms need repairing and colouring, ceilings whitening, and other work touching up.
Closets
These consist of eleven Closets and two Urinals.
They are well planned and carefully worked dry earth closets for each sex, provided with dry earth house, corridor for receptacles, airy, light, and well ventilated. The Urinals have a good flush provided.
The premises were very cleanly and non-offensive on my visit.
Here agin the dry earth system is systematically worked with success.
These offices need whitening, colouring, and painting partially.
The floor to one Urinal needs repairing.
Coal Barn 8 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 4 inches.
This is said to be hardly large enough.
Rear Block
Lobby 13 feet 6 inches by 9 feet 5 inches.
This has two windows; both are made to open.
Two lavatory basins, wastes, water supply, and full equipment are provided.
First Room 20 feet by 20 feet.
Lighted by two large windows.
Ventilated by five opening lights, fireplace flues, and two Tobin Tubes.
An Exhaust Ventilator is necessary.
Heated by a Manchester open fire grate and hot air flues.
Long Room 40 feet by 20 feet.
Lighted by three large windows.
Ventilated by nine opening portions of windows, grate flues, and two Tobin Tubes.
An Exhaust ventilator should be provided.
Heated by an open Manchester grate and flues.
The above rooms are in very fair condition generally.
Room at Right Angle to Last 39 feet7 inches by 21 feet 7 inches.
This has a graded floor. It is divided by a framed partition, partly glazed.
Lighted by three large, and one small, windows.
ventilated by five opening lights, four hot air flues, three Tobin Tubes, and two Exhausts.
Heated by two Manchester open fire grates, and four hot air flues.
The walls need colouring.
The room is otherwise in good condition.
Lobby 8 feet 3 inches by 15 feet 6 inches.
This is well lighted, ventilated, and equipped, also provided with four lavatory basins, water, and waste pipes.
Water Supply
This is good, by pump.
External Condition
This is generally good.
Yards and Fences
These are in fair order.