Photo Tony Bartholomew
(Above) Maisie Newton from St Peter's School in Barton upon Humber gets a taste of school life Victorian Style in the newly opened Queen Street School in Barton upon Humber which was built in 1844 by the pioneering Samuel Wilderspin.
After 25 years of campaigning and £1.9m in funds an unassuming Victorian schoolhouse that marked the beginnings of modern schooling has been restored to its original state.
Queen Street School in Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, has been described as one of Britain's most important schools. Within its typically red-brick Victorian walls a revolution gathered pace that changed the face of education across the world.
The man behind this miracle was 19th century social reformer, Samuel Wilderspin (1792-1866) for whom the school marked a personal pinnacle in his crusade to improve children’s education.
“This is a wonderful day for everyone connected with Queen Street School,” said John Walker, Chairman of the Queen Street Preservation Trust. “Samuel Wilderspin’s legacy is profound and his ideas have stood the test of time. He was a truly great Briton.”
Samuel Wilderspin, the father of modern schooling.
Dubbed the father of modern schooling, Wilderspin was the first person to introduce playgrounds to schools, along with other ‘innovations’ like the classroom and teaching equipment. He also taught children using pioneering methods, which we now take for granted, but which seemed astonishing by the harsh ‘workhouse’ standards of the day.
He founded schools throughout the UK, but Queen Street is the world's only surviving school and playground designed and used by him.
At Queen Street Wilderspin trained teachers in his enlightened approach, which developed children’s feelings as well as their intellect, fostering curiosity through arts, nature, group activities and play.
Despite its historical significance, the school’s fabric soon began to crumble after it was closed in 1978, eventually prompting English Heritage to place it on the Buildings at Risk Register.
To save it from ruin, local people formed the Queen Street School Preservation Trust and since 1993 they have worked with the owner, North Lincolnshire Council, and other partners to find a sustainable solution.
Pupils from Bowmandale Primary School in Barton upon Humber look on as John French acting as caretaker lights the gas lamps as they get a taste of 19th century school in the newly opened Queen Street School in Barton upon Humber. Photo Tony Bartholomew
“We are blessed to have this hugely important site in Barton upon Humber,” added John Walker. “Now thanks to the efforts of local people and the backing of our partners, we have a wonderful new resource, which will be used by modern children and will offer a fascinating experience for visitors and tourists.”
Period documents and archaeological evidence have been used to recreate Wilderspin’s original 1840s classroom, complete with gas lighting, a tiered seating gallery (designed so each pupil could see the teacher) and teaching posts.
The playground, central to Wilderspin’s philosophy, is being restored to its original layout, complete with flowerbeds and a maypole swing whilst a late Victorian classroom has also been created. The original 10-hole children's privy has even been installed.
A new exhibition at the site traces Wilderspin’s remarkable life. School clothing spanning Queen Street’s 134-year history dangles from coat hooks and audio visual and interactive aids tell the building’s story up to the present day and prompts visitors to recall their own school days.
Local schools will be able to use the facilities to find out more about school life in Victorian times.
Work has been undertaken by the Queen Street School Preservation Trust with funding coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£858,500), Yorkshire Forward (£760,000), English Heritage (£198,000) WREN Ltd (£40,000), SITA Trust (£33,645) and Glanford Building Buildings Preservation Trust (£10,000).
