Woburn Boys Council School in 1904
The former Boys' School in Leighton Street March 2012
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.
WOBURN COUNCIL SCHOOL (BOYS)
GENERAL WORKS - £46/18/6
SANITARY WORKS - £30
HEATING & VENTILATION - £24/15/0
NEW WORKS nil
[Total] £101/13/6
House
GENERAL WORKS - £16/14/2
SAINTARY WORKS - nil
HEATING & VENTILATION - nil
NEW WORKS - £12/10/-
[Sub Total] £29/4/2
TOTAL £130/17/8
This building is of brick and stone, with tiled roof, erected in 1845. It is rather low, the windows are frequent, but not lofty, a reasonable number of sashes are hung to open.
Main Room 40 feet by 16 feet by 10 feet 2 inches to 13 feet 8 inches.
Six fresh air inlets, and an Exhaust Ventilator are necessary. The west wall is very damp, the soil in the yard being very much above the floor level. The drains are defective. These should be set right, and an impervious Asphalte floor laid to the yard, between class room and house, also about walls of School and house.
Warming, by an open fire, is sufficient.
The floor is fairly good, excepting the S. W. corner, dry rot has set in owing to damp above named.
This room is tolerably clean, but paintwork needs renewing
Class Room 20 feet by 15 feet by 9 feet 8 inches to 12 feet.
This room is similarly lighted, paintwork needs renewing.
A revolving cowl is placed over the ceiling ventilator, this acts too often as a cold air inlet instead of an exhaust.
A proper Exhaust ventilator and three Tobin Tubes should be provided, as the cold down draught is too severe.
The fire place smokes badly, the chimney head should be carried up higher.
Lobby
This is very small and dirty. The floor is worn.
Offices
This block comprises School Coal Barn, two Stores, three Bay urinals, three Closets and a Lavatory, also, for House purposes a Coal Barn, Wash House and Earth Closets.
The Closets are provided with receptacles, but no dry earth or ash apparatus for deodorising. This is very necessary as they are all too near the School and House. All these need renovating.
A part of these buildings is used as a lavatory [i.e. a place to wash]
House
This has but two rooms on each floor, each about 12 feet by 12 feet. The House needs thorough renovation and renewal throughout, and settlements in interior walls mending.
The side door should be provided with a porch for light and air, as now it is dark and unhealthy.
Water Supply
Both hard and soft water is good and efficient.
External Repairs
External repairs of all the premises are necessary, also the usual painting.
School Yard
This needs rectifying, and the Shelter Shed repairing.
All fences be made good.