Abandoned buildings 3: the school

Amazingly this is where I used to work until we were moved out three years ago to our spanking new school in the next field. I was definitely snooping but thought it important to capture it before it disappears. I couldn't get inside but I know the man who has the key so maybe...

Scoil Naisiunta Naomh Seamas (St James National School) was built in 1936 replacing the original school which had to be closed after a fatal outbreak of diphtheria. This was considered to be a model school at the time and consisted of two rooms and,very unusual for the time, indoor toilets - one room for the boys and one for the girls - luxurious in 1936s, horribly smelly in 2007. The rooms were originally heated by open fires and lit by gas lamps. There were two entrances, one for boys and one for girls, and the small yard was similarly separated. When I first worked there in 2003, the building had actually been condemned. It was built without foundations and was incredibly damp - mould literally everywhere and each year we would get chest infections. It did have quite a lot of charm though and some nice 1930s architecture. Eventually, after many years campaigning we got a new warm and very spacious new school.

This sad little view looks in towards the emergency exit, put in when the school was revamped in the 80s. Look up and you can still see the little turret for the school bell. The red timber was once a little cupboard in the infant room. I don't know why it wasn't taken away - parents and other schools were offered all furniture. Interestingly the bottom of the cupboard was exposed and had a date on - January 1952. Teenagers had been using the school as a hanging out place but it looks as though everything has been ejected and then the building locked.

I don't know what will happen to this abandoned building. The church owns it and it's meant to be going on the market but who knows.

Very productive day today - cleaned my car which other members of the family told me was a tip! Actually, it's a working car that contains everything a girl might need!! Then I also cleaned out the conservatory which is too cold for humans in the winter but much loved by cats who have the very annoying but impressively athletic habit of peeing in the plant pots. Then I went exploring!!