Wootton Infants School in 1904

Wootton Infants School about 1900 [Z50/136/28]

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.

WOOTTON COUNCIL SCHOOL (INFANTS)

GENERAL WORKS               £64/2/10
SANITARY WORKS               £60
HEATING & VENTILATION     £20
NEW WORKS                                 -
                                              £144/2/10

House

GENERAL WORKS -
SANITARY WORKS -
HEATING & VENTILATION -
NEW WORKS -
-

TOTAL £144/2/10

Wootton Infants’ School (Council)

This building is brick built and tiled, of somewhat elaborate design, and peculiar, in that the school is severed by a dwelling-house in the centre. The ground floor of house, however, is now used as a Vestibule, Lavatory and Cloak room for the School rooms each side.

The School rooms are of the same capacity each side, well lighted and airy.

They measure: 27 feet by 22 feet by 10 feet to 24 feet.

Lighting is by large, fixed end window and two sky lights.

Ventilation is by a pivot light in gable.

Each room should be provided with three Tobin Tubes and an Exhaust ventilator.

Warming is by a Tortoise Stove in the centre of each room.

Repairs Needed:

A stone slab should be provided for the Tortoise Stove to stand upon clear of the wood floor.

The stove pipes through the roof timbers are not safe; they need a proper cold air double tube space to prevent them firing the roof.

The lead lights are very poor and defective; much needs doing to all of these. Either new ones should be provided or plain sheet and bar glazing; the latter would be stronger and give more light.

A dado should be painted round all rooms, lobbies and porches, as the colouring cannot endure.

Lobbies – Cloak room and Lavatory

These need thoroughly restoring, walls, floors, windows and doors repairing, and paint cleaning as before. The Lobby partition should be match boarded, instead of paper, and stained, sized and varnished.

Water Supply

The pump needs putting into good working order, the well cleansing, and pure water provided.

Two Bedrooms over the Vestibule

Sizes 15 feet by 13 feet 6 inches.
12 feet by 9 feet.

These are occasionally used, at the Mistress’s pleasure. They are in fair order.

Boys’ Offices

These are very defective and offensive, close to the School and well.

They should be cleared away at once, and a new block erected for the earth system to two Closets and one Urinal.

Girls’ Offices

These are new. The four Closets are provided with proper earth apparatus; but are not in working order. They need adjustment to work effectively. This can be easily rectified, and should be done at once.

This, I find, is another case of an incompetent or a scheming caretaker. The Managers should make some one responsible for the proper upkeep of these Premises and special execution of all sanitary duties.

External Repairs and Painting

The entire block, excepting the girls’ new Offices, needs repairing and restoring, viz:

The chimneys and walling to buildings and fences need repairing and pointing; roofing, tiles, fences, gates, stove-pipes, windows, door and fastenings thereto etc. repair and leave sound; the ornamental barge boards and timbers renew and dress with two coats of Stockholm Tar, or paint four coats.

Drains

These should be opened up, cleaned and put in good, sound working order; all polluted soil from around Well removed and clay puddle put 3 feet wide all round and as deep as necessary.

Water Supply. A good water supply is necessary.