Greenfield School about 1900 [Z50/49/1]

Bedfordshire County Council became Local Education Authority for the county in 1903, following the Education Act 1902. In 1904 the CountySurveyor 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's report [E/SA2/1/1]] took the form below.

GREENFIELD SCHOOL AND HOUSE (CHURCH)

This is a good brick and slated building, with stone dressings.

Large Room. – 38 feet by 20 feet by 13 feet to 19 feet.

This is not too well lighted, the centre part of room being rather dark. Portions of the windows open.

Warming is by open fire.

Ventilation should be supplemented by three Tobin fresh air inlets, also an Exhaust Ventilator.

The residue of main room is shut off by a framed folding partition and measures: 22 feet by 20 feet by 13 feet to 19 feet.

This is lighter. The same provision is needed here for ventilation as above.

Class Room. – 16 feet 4 inches by 12 feet 8 inches by 13 feet to 16 feet.

This room is fairly lighted and ventilated. The cowl used here is of the wrong type, as it allows down draught, and is not a proper Exhaust Ventilator. Provide an air pump instead.

Warming is by open fire.

Lobbies. The concrete floors are very rough, and should be faced with trowelled cement.

The Skylights are defective. These should be abandoned, and wall windows, with pivot lights, fixed instead.

Internal Repairs, cleansing, colouring and touching up stained work are necessary throughout.

Water Supply. A wash house, with pump and sink, in Offices block, makes a very fair Lavatory.

Offices. These are very small, and too crowded. The Girls' five privy doors interlock in opening. These privies are also very low, poorly ventilated and lighted.

The Boys' two Privies and Urinal are the same.

All these smell badly, and are too near the School. They should be replaced by proper Earth Closets. There appears to be plenty of ground for a good workable block.

Coal Barn. Only one Coal Barn is provided, which serves for School and House.

House

This is very small, having one fair sized Sitting Room, and a small Kitchen which is very poor, and two bedrooms over.

The Hall and Stairway is very dark, with no ventilation.

A new glazed door, and pivot Transom light in frame over, should replace existing door.

As now, the house is far from being fit for habitation. Health cannot be retained in such a dark, badly ventilated home as this is.

This house needs cleaning and brightening.

External Repairs and Painting. These are necessary to the whole block of buildings.