Chalgrave School in 1904

Chalgrave School about 1900 [Z1306/26/8/1]

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.

CHALGRAVE SCHOOL AND HOUSE
(NATIONAL)

This is a brick built and tiled building, originally well built, but old, and now in very bad repair, the sanitary arrangements being very offensive, and close to School and house windows.

Main Room 30 feet by 17 feet by 12 feet to 17 feet
Lighting by four windows, of ample size.
Ventilation by pivot lights, one of which is over an ashpit
Warming by an open fire, also a Tortoise Stove

Infants' Room 30 feet by 16 feet by 12 feet to 17 feet
Lighting by four windows; three are close to filthy Offices
Ventilation by pivot lights, and two ceiling openings.
Warming by an open fire, and a Tortoise Stove.

N. B. - Each room should be provided with four Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust Ventilator.

Boys' Lobby 12 feet 6 inches by 6 feet by 8 feet

This is lighted by a Transom light; a window, to open, should be put in.

Girls' Lobby 6 feet by 5 feet 9 inches by 8 feet. No light is provided.

Girls' Cloak Room and Lavatory 6 feet by 5 feet 4 inches by 6 feet 6 inches
A window is provided here, but no ventilation; also three Lavatory basins, but no water.

General Repairs - The floors, steps, walls and hearths need repairing; cleaning, whitening, colouring and painting, renewing; stain and varnish work touching up; and all windows, doors, locks, fastenings, cords and every requisite making good. The whole needs entirely renovating.

Offices These are very poor, badly lighted, vile places, close to the School windows, and Parish room entrance. They should be replaced by properly constructed earth closets, lofty and light, and built in a more remote place in the N. E. corner of the yard, well removed from School and Parish room.

Mistress's House

This has two living rooms and a Scullery, sizes as follows:
13 feet by 12 feet
12 feet by 11 feet
11 feet by 6 feet
N. B. - The Kitchen is used for Parish Meetings

Two Bedrooms are over first two rooms, and one over School Lobby.

The Front room is very damp. The ceiling needs cleaning and whitening, and walls papering

Living Room: ceiling needs cleaning and whitening

Hall and Stairway: ceiling needs cleaning and whitening, and walls papering.

Two bolts are needed for Front Doors

The room over Lobby is not used for sleeping. It needs cleaning and whitening.

The Ash Pit in Mistress's yard should be cleared away from the School window, and a new sanitary bin provided.

Privy. This should be removed, and an Earth Closet provided clear of the School windows.

Barn for Coals. This is very poor.

Mistress's Yard. This needs paving.

Drainage. This is defective.

Water Supply. A proper supply should be provided, as there is none.

Make good drain and paving about, and provide a filter for the soft water tank, as the water is liable to contamination; it is now in a bad state.

External Repairs and Painting. Repairs to playground walls, fences, brickwork, wood and ironwork, tiling, roofs and glazing are necessary.