Balby Board School

Balby Road at its junction with Sandford Road, Doncaster

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Brick Built Board School erected in 1884 to serve as an educational establishment for children from all around Balby and nearby Hexthorpe.

Age

Balby Board School was built in 1884 following Forster's Education Act in 1870. It is typical of similar Board schools of the period and has remained in mainly the same state since then.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Two storey building in pressed red brick, possibly locally made in Balby. 2 blocks set at right angles. Walled in English Bond, alternate courses of brick headers and stretchers. Possibly original slate roof. Gables at each end have parapets with coping of special bricks and kneelers all in brick. Central window in gables taller than those at each side, creating a sense of Venetian or Palladian window. Sandstone name plaque set within pointed arch at top of central front window, with special bricks to form surround and drip mould. Windows to the sides generally paired and now mainly boarded up, but with some evidence remaining of vertically sliding sash timber windows with sandstone heads and sills, all chamfered. String course at sill level.

Historic Interest

Following Forster's Education Act 1870 Doncaster began planning for the formation of local Board schools. The Sheffield Independent 29th December 1883 printed a report of the meeting of the Balby School Board, the Rev. W.R. Weston was in the chair. The tenders for the erection of a board school in Balby were opened and after some discussion it was agreed to accept that of Mr. B. Wortley, builder, for the sum of £1571. The building was designed to accommodate 500 pupils from Balby and Hexthorpe. Populations of both areas were increasing with the opening of the Railway Plant Works nearby. Archives of the local newspapers reporting on monthly meetings of the Balby School Board show that the first headmaster, Mr. Redmayne, achieved 99.3% of school passes. It showed the school has been on the whole well-instructed in elementary subjects with average attendance. Over the years the school was regularly used for large gatherings for local elections, for meetings of local political parties and the Primrose league as well as for inquests. After the building of several new schools in Balby, the Board school buildings were used as an annex to nearby schools and the Doncaster Technical College. Locals recall taking art, needlework and other handicraft classes in the 1960s. in the 1970s it became a nursery school particularly established to integrate local immigrant children into the school system. It later was used as a dance studio. There is also evidence of the building being used as a first aid / ambulance station during WW2.

Landmark Status

The Balby Board School stands in a prominent position at the top of Sandford Road. It was easily accessed by pupils from all over Balby and nearby Hexthorpe. Because it has been in use in one way or another until recent years it is well known by many local residents. Unfortunately it is at present unused and boarded up and beginning to deteriorate.

14 Aug 2023

14 Aug 2023