Potton Schools in 1904

The schools about 1900 [Z50/91/59]

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's report [E/SA2/1/1]] took the form below.

Potton Group of Council Schools.

POTTON COUNCIL SCHOOL (MIXED AND INFANTS)

GENERAL WORKS                       £127/3/7
SANITARY WORKS                      £220/0/0
HEATING & VENTILATION            £105/15/-
NEW WORKS                               £85/0/0
                                                     £537/18/-

House.

GENERAL WORKS                      £49/11/2
SANITARY WORKS                      £10/0/0
HEATING & VENTILATION                  -
NEW WORKS                              £10/0/0
                                                    £69/11/2
TOTAL                                        £607/9/9

Potton Schools and House (Council)
INFANTS’ BLOCK
Brick built, with stone dressings and slated roof

Main Room – 46 feet 6 inches by 19 feet 3 inches by 14 feet to 17 feet 6 inches

Lighting, by nine windows, is fairly good.

Ventilation is by seven opening lights, and three ceiling openings.

Six Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust Ventilator should be provided.

Heating by an open fire, and a stove.

Cloak Room – 7 feet 9 inches by 7 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 9 inches to 15 feet.

Lobby 7 feet 9 inches by 5 feet 9 inches by 10 feet 9 inches to 15 feet.

Concrete floor need repairing

Lighted and ventilated by two windows.

Class Room - 19 feet 3 inches by 16 feet by 14 feet to 17 feet 6 inches.

This room, is not too well lighted by a three-light window.

Ventilation by two lights and ceiling opening.

Four Tobin Tubes and one Exhaust Ventilator are necessary.

Warming is by a Stove. The chimney smokes badly. The chimney stack should be carried up three feet higher, to clear the ridge.

Cloak Room – 15 feet by 6 feet 9 inches by 8 feet 3 inches to 10 feet 6 inches

This is lighted and ventilated by a window.

Internal Renovation, also External Repairs and Painting

These should be done next season.

Water Supply

There is none nearer than the master’s house, which is some distance away.

Lavatory by Lobby needs water providing, also a waste drain.

Play Grounds

These need rectifying, and surface water drains providing.

Steps off Street

Several of these need renewing.

MIXED BLOCK OF BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ SCHOOLS

Boys’ Main Room – 41 feet 3 inches by 20 feet 3 inches by 14 feet 3 inxto 17 feet 6 inches.

This is fairly lighted by four windows.

Ventilation: Seven lights open, also two ceiling openings.

Five Tobin Tubes and one Exhaust Ventilator should be provided.

Warming is by two open fires.

Boys’ Class Room (next Girls’) – 21 feet 9 inches by 14 feet by 14 feet 3 inches to 17 feet 6 inches

This is shut off by a wooden partition only. It is badly lighted, and should have a good dormer light provided.

Lighting by windows 5 feet 6 inches by 3 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 6 inches by 5 feet.

Ventilation: Two lights open.

Two Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust Ventilator should be provided.

Warming is by an open fire.

Boys’ Class Room (North Side). – 22 feet 9 inches by 22 feet by 14 feet 3 inches to 17 feet 3 inches.

Lighting by one three-light window.

Ventilation: Three window lights, two wall casings, and two ceiling openings.

Two Tobin Tubes, and one Exhaust Ventilator are needed.

Warming is by a Musgrave open fire.

Boys’ Lobby – 7 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 6 inches by 10 feet to 14 feet 3 inches.

Boys’ Cloak Room – 15 feet 6 inches by 8 feet by 7 feet 9 inches to 14 feet 3 inches.

Lighting by two windows, one of which opens for ventilation.

Three Lavatory basins on Slate slab are provided. A trapped drain in floor is necessary, the concrete floor also needs repairing and laying to trap.

Girls’ Cloak Room.

This is similar in size and appointments.

Girls’ Main Room. – 31 feet 9 inches by 21 feet 9 inches by 14 feet 3 inches to 17 feet 6 inches.

Lighted by five windows, which are very shallow. The room is none too light. Three Dormer lights should be provided here; these are very necessary.

Ventilation: Six lights open, also three ceiling openings.

Six Tobin Tubes and one Exhaust ventilator are necessary.

Warming is by an open fire, which is not sufficient. A 16 inch Stove and adjuncts should be provided.

Girls’ Class Room (East End) – 20 feet by 20 feet by 14 feet 3 inches to 17 feet 6 inches.

Lighting by three shallow windows. These are poor.

Ventilation by three window lights, and one ceiling opening.

Three Tobin Tubes, and one Exhaust Ventilator should be provided.

Heating by an open fire.

This room is bright and clean.

Girls’ Lobby and Class Room.

Same as Boys’ in general details, and as to needs of cleaning and repair.

External Repairs and Painting.

These are needed throughout.

Offices.

A Coal Store adjoins the Privies.

This block of buildings was built for Moule’s Dry Earth Closets. The proper use of these has been abandoned, and a huge general pit made, into which dust, ashes, and paper are cast promiscuously, and non-effectively.

The smell from these was very offensive. They are dangerously near to the Girls’ and Infants’ School windows.

This is a case where lack of due attention and care in the working of dry earth has resulted in reverting to the filthy fetid pit in its worst form, openly reeking day and night its foul gases.

I should advise the Managers to go to Maulden for a dry earth pattern, economically and effectively worked.

The same remarks apply to the Boys’ Block of Privies.

These buildings are capable of being worked without offence, if proper care and supervision is exercised.

14 Station Road August 2013

Master’s House

This is a brick and slated structure, in good order, but not well planned. The Hall and Stairway rob the rooms very much.

The ground floor rooms are as follows –

Parlour – 13 feet 6 inches by 12 feet by 9 feet 3 inches.
Living Room – 13 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 6 inches.
Kitchen – 11 feet 6 inches by 10 feet 6 inches.
Scullery – 12 feet 3 inches by 6 feet.

The Hall and Stairway is roomy, the Scullery very narrow.

Bedrooms

These are over the first three rooms.

The House is in good order internally, the worst feature being the opening of the casement windows inside, which causes much inconvenience with blinds and curtains, and renders the windows far from water tight.

All the sashes should be altered, and the frames adapted for lights to open outward.

Coal Barn

This is very poor, and insufficient, a larger one is needed.

Water Supply

The well water by pump is good. This supplies the School.

House Privy

This is under the same roof, and adjoins the Boys’ Block of Offices. It is very offensive, and should be replaced by a better and more decent provision.

External Repairs and Painting

These should be done next year.

Boundary Fences, Gates and Roof.

These need repairing, and all making good.