Lea Road School, Gainsborough, Lincs, October 2016

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HughieD

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This was never going to be anything more than an external job for obvious reasons. However I didn’t think I’d get enough decent external shots to make it worthy of a report. But I did so here it is. Plus it’s never been covered here before so an externals only is better than nothing.

Gainsborough’s Lea Road Infant's School was built and opened on 3rd May 1906 replacing the Bridge Road and Hickman Street Schools. Initially (the first three decades of its life) it was an infants’ (up to age 7) school. In August 1930 it re-organised to accommodate Infants, Junior Girls and Senior Girls. The Gainsborough Lea Road School became Gainsborough Lea Road County Primary School and Gainsborough Lea Road Secondary Modern School for girls around 1945 it had its own indoor pool which was built circa 1966 in the end ground floor classroom. Not too sure when this old picture below was taken but not too much has changed:

30182450931_3531014dc9_b.jpgGainsborough Lea by HughieDW, on Flickr

It was closured in 1993 and was converted into a business centre (the Waterfront Enterprise Centre), until around 2010. Since then it has been left empty and slowly fallen into disrepair and has suffered numerous incidents of vandalism.

Front View from Lea Road:

30042351546_377cd13611_b.jpgimg7949 by HughieDW, on Flickr

30042299946_971070e981_b.jpgimg7950 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Pretty much sealed up….

30076425625_f17f8273db_b.jpgimg7948 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…to a window:

29962290772_35332dca27_b.jpgimg7951 by HughieDW, on Flickr

29962453772_9a2450083b_b.jpgimg7947 by HughieDW, on Flickr

29962490242_39c3804ac8_b.jpgimg7970 by HughieDW, on Flickr

30042156566_42e1ca1ef8_b.jpgimg7953 by HughieDW, on Flickr

29992661791_72196f2ac5_b.jpgimg7955 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Initially a school for infants:

29962134842_3049142040_b.jpgimg7954 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Then later junior girls:

29992799311_1b230a1b9d_b.jpgimg7952 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The roof has really started to go:

29448161294_95148f10b2_b.jpgimg7956 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Side on view looking North:

30041914606_c38ceef6da_b.jpgimg7958 by HughieDW, on Flickr

29961934102_ca12891dfb_b.jpgimg7960 by HughieDW, on Flickr

It’s all about the cupola:

29992419511_01e2563bd0_b.jpgimg7964bw by HughieDW, on Flickr

Round the back is a boy’s entrance:

29992461131_6febb847c2_b.jpgimg7962 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Sealed tight here too:

29961791102_c1ba1d7653_b.jpgimg7968 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But hang on. A potential way in for the foolhardy:

29781186540_47c6262b86_b.jpgimg7965 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Desirable(!) property next door:

29962004592_16af8f6a1b_b.jpgimg7957 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
I agree, a beautiful purpose built school but virtually useless for anything else. Lovely photography you captured it well. Thanks
 
The council are hell bent on making sure nobody goes in to set fire to that one. Sometimes a hindrance for the explorer but another way to look at it, if its sealed up then it will not be vandalised.
 
The council are hell bent on making sure nobody goes in to set fire to that one. Sometimes a hindrance for the explorer but another way to look at it, if its sealed up then it will not be vandalised.

Think they are also trying to cover their backs given the asbestos risk with this place too.
 
Basically you need a means of preserving the original frontage - and in the case of this structure a few more feet back into the building to preserve the cupola, and then demolish the rest so that modern, usable rooms/covered space can be constructed. The old, original street 'scene' would still be there for all to see - but then I much prefer the old brick or stone work to your modern concrete horrors!
 
Basically you need a means of preserving the original frontage - and in the case of this structure a few more feet back into the building to preserve the cupola, and then demolish the rest so that modern, usable rooms/covered space can be constructed. The old, original street 'scene' would still be there for all to see - but then I much prefer the old brick or stone work to your modern concrete horrors!

Who doesn't? Sadly that kind of proposal would be deemed "commercially un-viable" by property developers so it rarely happens.
 

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