Totternhoe School in Castle Hill Road about 1910 [Z1306/127]

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.

This is the property of Earl Brownlow. It is of good design, very substantial, light and airy.

Main Room. 45 feet 3 inches by 18 feet by 13 feet 6 inches to 27 feet.

Lighting is by four windows of ample size.

Ventilation by window pivot lights [i.e. windows], ceiling ventilator, and one Hopper gable light.

Four Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust Ventilator should be provided.

Heating by an open fire.

N. B. - The partition to the Archway should be carried up to shut off the whole opening.

Class Room. 25 feet by 20 feet 3 inches by 11 feet 6 inches to 23 feet.

Lighting by four windows.

Ventilation by four window Hoppers, also a gable opening.

Two Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust Ventilator are necessary.

Cloak Room. 15 feet by 8 feet 9 inches by 9 feet 6 inches.

This has a window.

Cloak Room. 7 feet 6 inches by 8 feet 9 inches by 11 feet.

This has a window for light and ventilation; also a stone sink.

Water Supply.

The water supply, by pump, is good.

All these Premises need repairs, cleansing, and restoring.

Offices.

This is a good range of new Offices, but they are only pail closets. At the time of my visit they were very offensive. These should be supplied with dry earth and apparatus, as they are too near the School windows and doors for un- deodorised receptacles.

Drainage.

This is very good.

A Coal Barn and Two Stores are provided for Schools.

House.

This is a six roomed dwelling, comprising:

Parlour  12 feet 3 inches by 11 feet by 9 feet.

Sitting-room  12 feet by 12 feet.

Kitchen  12 feet by 6 feet.

Pantry  9 feet 9 inches by 6 feet 3 inches.

Hall and Stairway  14 feet 6 inches by 6 feet.

Three Bedrooms over first three rooms.

The floor and paving need repairing.

The damp gets through the front room walls.

Closet.

These are same as for School.

A Coal Barn is provided.

The Kitchen is provided with a Norfolk oven for bread making.

The House generally is in very good order excepting dampness of parlour walls. This should be remedied.