Exactly 140 years and 1 day after the foundation stone of St John’s School was laid by the Earl of Dartmouth on the 7th October 1882, the opening ceremony of an exhibition celebrating the building’s 140 years of service to the local community took place on the 8th October 2022. John Brooke, the last headteacher of the school and author of ‘The Three Schools’ – a history of education in Kirkheaton, opened the proceedings at the now named Kirkheaton Community Centre.

Rob Eabry of Kirkheaton Family History group introducing John Brooke

The exhibition was the result of a collaboration between Kirkheaton Local History group and Yetton Together, the leasees of the centre.

 

 

 

 

 

The building’s history falls into 3 neat time zones which was reflected in the exhibition.

  1. 1882  – 1982 as an infant school
  2. 1982 – 2015 as a library, youth club, playgroup etc
  3. 2015 – as the Community Centre and Library

 

There were many photos and school artefacts from the Victorian and later eras on display. The star exhibit was the old school bell which for nearly 100 years had summoned the children to the school but then had languished, forgotten in the cellar for nearly 50 years before being restored to glory with the polishing by Rob.

The weekend saw a steady stream of visitors – memories were triggered as older residents remembered their time there and reminisced with fellow ex pupils about the long trek to the outside toilets,  frozen milk thawing out on the radiators and daytime naps! [Seemingly children were expected to have an hour’s sleep in the afternoon on little camp style beds] There were shrieks of recognition seeing ex class mates photos  long forgotten and re-introductions to Wylva Raby. past  teacher at the school and John Brooke, its last headteacher in 1982.

‘Younger’ visitors remembered their nights at the youth club playing snooker etc  and dances. A rock group even practised there! Some visitors also recognised their younger selves attending the play group.

A real trip down Memory Lane for many who came!
Thanks go to the many volunteers from The Old School Tea Room for providing delicious cakes and drinks over the weekend.