16 EXAMINER www.iomtoday.co.im Tuesday, August 25, 2020 BUILDINGS AT RISK Schools of thought In this week’s edition, Peter Kelly of the Isle of Man Victorian Society explores how some of the past educational buildings have been adapted for other uses or lost to our architectural heritage and how the future of some remains in the balance.

he announce- ment in Novem- ber 2019 that Castle Rushen High School was goingT to be replaced by a new £30 million building came as something of a shock to many. ‘Why, it’s not all that old, why do they want a new one?’ was heard across the island. The current school was of- ficially opened in November 1962 – it doesn’t sound a long time ago, but it will be 62 years old when the new school is due to open in 2024. Nothing appears to be built to last anymore. The present Noble’s Hospi- tal, when completed in 2003, was said to have an anticipated 40-year life expectancy. It has nearly reached the halfway point. In the past, expressions like ‘outlived its usefulness’ just didn’t exist. If a farmer built a new farmhouse, then the old one wasn’t pulled down, it was converted into another agri- cultural building. So too with schools; if they became too small they were extended or if a new one was built then the old one was of- ten sold off and used for anoth- er purpose. This could be as housing, or as a Sunday school, or even a church hall. In this first of a series of occasional articles, we look at some of the island’s schools The Wesleyan School also doubled up as a Sunday School. The building probably started life as a thatched cottage and certainly reverted to being a cottage when the pupils were that became redundant, ei- transferred to the new Board School in Kirk Michael Village. A new Sunday School was built opposite the chapel in 1901 by Mr Crowe the mason and Mr Kelly and sons the joiners of Michael Village. ther because a larger or more Many years later it was converted into a metal worker’s workshop satisfactory new building was erected or the number of pu- verted into a dwelling and is and Archdeacon Moore en- ruary 14, 1861 and work began. na, the north wing at Cronk- Architectural Association and pils dropped to such a level now called Barregarrow Cot- gaged Joseph Henry Chris- Other works designed by bourne House in Braddan and a cousin of Ewan Christian, the that the cost of running them tage. tian, the architect from Christian were the bell tow- Braddan School and master’s great ecclesiastical architect. per child was too great and so London, who produced plans er at Church, the house. The master’s house at arrangements were made for JURBY PAROCHIAL SCHOOL for a new school and master’s Lunatic Asylum at Ballamo- He was the President of the bore a close resemblance to the pupils to attend the next As with other parishes, there house. nearest school. was a parochial school at Jur- These were approved by by, but its condition was poor the school committee on Feb- BARREGARROW WESLEYAN SCHOOL This school appears on the 1869 Ordnance Survey map and was on the opposite side of the road from the present chapel towards Glen Wyllin and about 200 yards further down. The date it opened is lost, but by the 1870s it was report- ed as becoming run-down. In 1872 it was taken over by the Kirk Michael School Board and once the board school in the village was erected it was Jurby Parochial School designed by Joseph Henry Christian. In this post- closed and the pupils trans- war picture the school master’s house has been rendered on the outside in The site of the Jurby Parochial School today. Nothing left of the old school and little left of the garage and filling ferred to the new building. the same way that the master’s house was at Braddan School, also designed station that replaced it after it had served as an early HQ for the RAF Bombing School in 1938. Now everything in the The old school was con- by Christian Photo: Richard Davis picture is to be demolished to make way for new private houses, close to the Bretney Estate Tuesday, August 25, 2020 www.iomtoday.co.im ISLE OF MAN EXAMINER 17 BUILDINGS AT RISK

First schools in the Isle of Man established in 1675

rior to 1675 there especially built school rooms, were not any leaving churches for the pur- schools in the Isle pose which they were built. of Man. If children There were private schools did receive any and some were established by Peducation it would be from the the National Society for Pro- vicar at their parish church, moting the Education of the but there would be Poor in the Principles of the very few children who were Church of England and were fortunate enough to be helped known as National Schools. in this way. Those erected by the Par- When Bishop Isaac Barrow ish Churches were known as was appointed as both Bishop Parochial Schools. Some were of Sodor and Man, as well as built on land owned by the Governor of the island, things churches, but in other cases began to change. He estab- land was given by a landowner lished a school in every parish but often subject to a covenant and also obtained from King that should at any time it not Charles II a Royal Bounty of be required for educational £100 per annum to be used for purposes then the land was to the improvement of the min- revert to the donor. istry and the instruction of The Education Act of 1872 youth. He induced the Earl of saw a big change to the educa- School was built to accommodate the ever-increasing numbers of children in the parish but things have changed to the extent that Bride children Derby to make an Order which tion system in the Isle of Man. now go to Andreas School. This was the only Parochial School in the north of the island built entirely out of local brick. Note the position of the former effectively made education It brought about School ventilators on the roof and how the original wooden window frames have been replaced with uPVC. Now the building lies empty compulsory. Boards in every parish with an The Order stated: ‘All farmers Education Rate that had to be the farm house at Lanjaghan, and tenants in my Isle of Mann paid by householders to fund Abbeylands, which he de- of what degree or quality so- new Board Schools that were signed for the Archdeacon’s ever doe and shall send their built over a period of time. brother, W F Moore. oldest sonnes and all other The school closed on July their children to such pettie ducation of chil- 31, 1937 and from then on the schools as soone as they are ca- dren was still com- children were taken to Andre- pable wherein if any doe fail or pulsory and the as by bus. be remiss they shall not onely Act required that In October 1937, the school be fined severely, but their religious instruc- and house were advertised to children made uncapable of Etion be given. let. bearing any office or place of In addition to the parochial The had just trust.’ schools run by the Church of negotiated to build a bombing A grammar school was estab- England, there were also day school based at Jurby and they lished in the capital, Castle- schools run by the Method- took on the lease of the school town, and another in the ist, Roman Catholic and other as a headquarters from 1938 ever-increasing in size fishing churches. to 1945. village of Douglas. In some cases, the parochial It was offered for sale in In the country parishes the school buildings were used as 1951 and sold the following teaching took place in the par- the board schools, but own- year. ish churches by the vicar or ership remained with the Then it was demolished other person licensed by the church. and a commercial garage with Bishop. In 1893 the Education Act petrol pumps erected. By the Ecclesiastical Or- paved the way for evening More recently, approval dinance of 1703 there was a classes and higher educa- has been given for houses on requirement to promote reli- tion schools with four higher the site. gion, learning and good man- education boards being es- Built for the children living on the outskirts of Ramsey and ended up that more than half the pupils came from ners. tablished. The Education Act BRIDE BOARD SCHOOL Ramsey itself. Walking a mile and a half to the school rather than going to one of the schools in Ramsey. Children were to be sent of 1920 brought about the Isle There was a parochial school Since its closure it served as a builder’s store and was then converted into a dwelling showing that buildings to school as soon as they were of Man Education Authority within the grounds of Bride have a life after their original purpose has passed. It is currently for sale capable of receiving instruc- which dispensed with these Church, but responsibility tion and were to stay until they four boards, along with the for education was handed to number of pupils decreased. THE DHOOR SCHOOL was £550, which was helped could read English distinctly. other 21 school boards and ed- the Bride School Board in 1876 Changes in farming methods There had been a school by a grant of £212 from the Eventually, teaching moved ucation passed into the hands when the new school down the resulted in fewer labourers at The Dhoor, which is about Board of Education. out of the churches and into of one body. road was complete. and families living in the par- a mile and a half outside Ram- The inspector’s report of The Bride School Board ish. sey on the Andreas Road, but 1903 recommended an in- sought tenders for the con- Eventually, the school was by 1876 it could not pass the crease in classroom size. struction of a new school in merged with Andreas, in a school inspector’s annual in- This was carried out in June 1875. similar way to The Dhoon and spection. 1905/06, together with en- Copies of plans and spec- Laxey today. Consideration was given larged cloakroom, a new boil- ification could be inspected With only three children to erecting a new one by the er, ventilation and out offices. at the office of Messrs Gold- of school age attending, the Lezayre School Board. By now there were 78 pu- smith and Cowley in Parlia- school closed in July 2012. It was delayed, however, pils, plus a further 30 infants. ment Street, Ramsey. The remaining pupils until the school at Sulby had About half the children They were builders’ and went to Andreas School. been financed. lived in Ramsey and walked to agricultural merchants. The There was hope for the In July 1883, the local press The Dhoor as the school was name of the architect is not building when it was let for a advised that Mr Corkhill of free, whereas in Ramsey each known, but the contractor privately-run day care centre Ramsey had commenced to school charged a fee. was Mr Corkhill of Ramsey for pre-school children. build the school seven weeks The school closed in 1965 who also built the new school Unfortunately, this only before and it was going to be and for many years it was at Lezayre at the same time. lasted for a short time and finished that week. a builder’s store, but some Of all the new ‘Board’ now the building is empty. An incredible feat, but it years ago it was converted schools built at this time, There are many uses to did present problems with into a dwelling. Bride was the only one con- which it could be put – it just damp penetration. It is currently for sale, if structed out of local brick. requires some bright person The anticipated cost of you are interested. As the years went by, the to come forward. site, building and furnishing l Series to be continued. Street School was opened in the mid-1880s