View Full Version : Woodhouse west School


litwardle
01-01-2006, 17:15
Anyone have any info/Photo's of my old school, Woodhouse west primary school in Woodhouse. My Brother, sister and I all went there and remember it well! I can still feel the warm shiny bricks of the boiler room!!!!

We all moved from Sheffield to Devon in 1995, but heard recently that it was demolshed!!!!!? I have trawled the net looking for photos and information but havn't found anything!!!!!

Thanks

Lee Wardle

playman
01-01-2006, 19:06
Yes the old school was demolished starting june 1998 and now there are houses built on the site so the school building lasted just short of 100 years.

I have a copy of a publication put together by Neil porteous, called 'A HUNDRED NOT OUT' who was the headmaster at the time and it follows the progress of the school since being built starting in 1897 and taking the first pupils in on 11th june 1900.
it goes through the years one by one until the publication in 1999/2000. It gives a little info and staff changes.

litwardle
01-01-2006, 19:42
Blimy, Mr porteous was the headmaster when I was there (1987). Was there a reason for the demolition/Closure?

playman
01-01-2006, 19:49
yes it was no longer econimically viable to keep the building open cos it needed so many repairs needing doing. and after the school moved just down the road the building became surplus to requirements.

litwardle
01-01-2006, 20:28
Originally posted by playman
Yes the old school was demolished starting june 1998 and now there are houses built on the site so the school building lasted just short of 100 years.

I have a copy of a publication put together by Neil porteous, called 'A HUNDRED NOT OUT' who was the headmaster at the time and it follows the progress of the school since being built starting in 1897 and taking the first pupils in on 11th june 1900.
it goes through the years one by one until the publication in 1999/2000. It gives a little info and staff changes.

Were you a pupil there? It seems so sad to me. You always imagine that somewhere like a shcool would just go on forever.

My older Brother and Sister both went there. We were talking when we met at christmas about the hot bricks around the boiler room. I can still remember the smell, I kind of sulphury/smokey smell.

Any idea where I can get a copy of ''A HUNDRED NOT OUT"?

playman
01-01-2006, 20:50
i was not a pupil there but my wife was at the old building and our children went there to the new building, neil porteous started as head there jan 1980, the publication was to celebrate 100 years of woodhouse west and was printed to order so there will probably be no more copies available, also it was to raise funds for the school, i could photocopy mine if you wanted.
This was from the school year of 1979 " there were frequent problems with the coal-fired boiler in the old building which broke down completely in february 1980. Calor gas heaters were inadequate so the main building was evacuated and some classes transferred for a month to the modern building until the boiler was replaced ".

litwardle
01-01-2006, 21:04
Originally posted by playman
i was not a pupil there but my wife was at the old building and our children went there to the new building, neil porteous started as head there jan 1980, the publication was to celebrate 100 years of woodhouse west and was printed to order so there will probably be no more copies available, also it was to raise funds for the school, i could photocopy mine if you wanted.
This was from the school year of 1979 " there were frequent problems with the coal-fired boiler in the old building which broke down completely in february 1980. Calor gas heaters were inadequate so the main building was evacuated and some classes transferred for a month to the modern building until the boiler was replaced ".

Thank you for the offer of the photocopy, however it's mainly photographs I'm after.

It's quite strange nowadays to imagine an entire school heated only by a coal boiler.

Strix
01-01-2006, 23:46
Have you tried e-mailing the school to see if they still have photo's on the wall of the original building?

http://www.woodhousewest.ik.org/

nanrobbo
02-01-2006, 02:48
It is so sad to hear that the school was finally demolished, my husband Peter was a pupil there as was our daughter Marina and they were both taught by the indomitable Miss Richardson.
Apparently no one messed with Miss Richardson.

playman
02-01-2006, 10:11
Miss Norah Richardson started at woodhouse west in Nov 1941 and in 1970 was deputy head until she retired after 38 years service in July 1978.

playman
02-01-2006, 10:13
There are a few old pics of the old school but not many in the publication.

melthebell
02-01-2006, 10:24
is that the school across from the west end club? nd near the angel pub?

silverknight
02-01-2006, 10:25
The Headmaster was a Mr Roberts when i was there.Some other teachers I have remembered are a Miss Duncan , Miss Bradshaw and a Mr Thorpe.
I may have some photos took around the early 60's of the school.Will have to go in the loft!

melthebell
02-01-2006, 10:28
i thought that said "the school will have to go in the loft" for a second there :P

playman
02-01-2006, 11:07
John Roberts took the heads post in Sept 1964 and miss Bradshaw started the same time mr Thorpe was already there and miss Duncan left in July 66, mr Thorpe was there until his retirement after 40 years service in July 1975.

silverknight
02-01-2006, 11:36
Any info on school caretakers in your book?
My father was between I think 1960 to 66 and my mother on a tempory basis while the old school had a refit.

litwardle
02-01-2006, 12:27
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Strix
[B]Have you tried e-mailing the school to see if they still have photo's on the wall of the original building?

Thankyou for that, it didn't actually occour to me to email them! LOL! I'll send them a quick one.

carcrash
02-01-2006, 12:33
I went to woodhouse west from 75 until 78.

playman
02-01-2006, 18:39
what is your surname silverknight and i will look.

Albatross
02-01-2006, 22:19
The caretaker used to live in the house next to the school and if he was ill or on holiday my grandfather used to go and see to the boilers at the school. He lived bang opposite the school next door to the butchers.
My dad, uncle and aunt all went to the school but that was around the 1920s I still have a class photo from the era somewhere.

nanrobbo
03-01-2006, 04:03
Peter, my husband asked if any one remembered Mr Vaughan (sp) who was headmaster whilst he was a pupil at WWE school?

playman
03-01-2006, 16:08
Mr Rees Davies Vaughan was head for 23 years 1941 - 1964, which years were peter at WW.

playman
03-01-2006, 16:10
Carcrash do you remember any of the teachers names ?,

nanrobbo
04-01-2006, 08:42
Peter was at East School for a couple of years, so he reckons from '39 to '43 at WWE then he went Carfield Intermediate.

carcrash
04-01-2006, 11:55
Mrs Allsop ( evil cow), Miss Ashton, Mr Dicks, Mr Barcley, Mr Portieus was head master but I was there when he took over from an old bloke who had been there for years. The School was to small for the amount of kids it had so when I was in the 4th year of infants we got moved to the Middle School. Handy for me as I lived in the old houses on Coisley Hill

rogG
02-02-2006, 21:19
I went to W West in the early to mid 50s. Headmaster was Mr Vaughan, a great guy. Mr Thorpe was there, also a Mr Dabel (sp?). I moved on from there to High Storrs Grammar for Boys. Sorry to learn that it's been demolished. Great old village school. I remember one day Mr Thorpe calling me out to the front, giving me half a crown,. and asking me to go to the corner store to fetch him a packet of Senior Service. Imagine getting away with that nowadays?

Springslass
29-07-2007, 18:39
Ahhh so happy memories of Woodhouse West.
I was there from 53 to 59...my older sisters and brother all went there as well.
I remember Mr. Vaughan...best headmaster ever, Nora Richardson...as said nobody ever crossed her, Mr. Thorpe....remember his old leather briefcase, Miss Moody...did she ever have a different hairstyle, Mrs. Griffiths...she had room with fireplace, Miss Bingham, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Beeston, Miss Tongue
I also remeber when school was remodelled...we sat in class in our coats it was so cold.
Does anyone remember Jacqueline Hardy getting hit by the bus on Coisley Hill and losing part of her leg

carcrash
31-07-2007, 12:56
wrong thread

Springslass
31-07-2007, 19:28
Correction to previous post....it was Miss Woodward who later became Mrs. Bingham.
Forgot to name Mrs. Barker.
Does anyone remember being monitor responsible for making teacher's tea and coffee?

sharonxxxx
25-09-2007, 10:59
I went to woodhouse west from 75 until 78.

me too maybee we know each other

sharonxxxx
25-09-2007, 11:04
Carcrash do you remember any of the teachers names ?,

if you went to woodhouese west maybee you went to woodhoue west end the scool further down do you remember mr deeks the teacher who used to play guitarr to his class while everyone was working xx and i remember at the other school the older one - prefab classrooms outside we wud always prefere to be in them cus they at least had heating the school was freezing i remember ohh and another memory was they had this massive black and white dolls house made of wood does anyone remember thet ???? i thought it was amazing at the time but then i was only probably about 6ish lol

alex3659
26-09-2007, 12:34
my grandad was the lollypop man there until about 1972 ish his name was frank fidler

litwardle
28-09-2007, 09:07
Still after some photo's if anyone has any?!!!!

sharonxxxx
06-10-2007, 17:11
God I Know All Them Names Most Of Them Went To City School Darren Curry N Wayne Rhymell Especialy I Must Know You Unless You Was Verry Quiet I Hung Round With All The Idiots Lol Lol ,,,,, Sharon Brown Remember Me By Anychance Little Fat Dumpy N Extremely Gobby !!! He He .. Still Am :) Ha Ha Ha John Who ?? Im Intruiged Now

racheliggle7
29-10-2008, 20:50
i went to the old woodhouse west from 1979-1983 i think it was. i remember a mrs benson,miss smith,mrs preistnall,mrs brown. i used to love the boiler bricks and the numbers on the stone stairs. i lived just over the wall from the school and could see it from my bedroom window. i was quite upset when they demolished it and i have also been lookin for some picturesd to put on my facebook group about woodhouse.



i now work at the *new* woodhouse west which used to be just the junior school

mary70
30-10-2008, 12:47
i went to woodhouse west started in 1975

rogG
30-10-2008, 13:30
A few of you seem to be from my era. The old timers. '51 -'54. Who could forget Mr Vaughan? Used to call the kids "his darlings." He taught the kids skills that went beyond the curriculum. Like holding special sessions for kids who didn't know how to clean their shoes or brush their teeth. Kids from some pretty tough homes went to that school back then. One young feller was dressed in what can only be described as rags. His home situation involved alcohol abuse and goodness knows what else. I once saw Mr Vaughan in his office pleading with him to try hard for his "11 plus" and grammar school. He looked at me and said "He has to get out of the mess he's in." I'll always remember the look on his face which showed just how much he cared. Are there any like that anymore? I haven't met any.

dublugee
30-10-2008, 16:04
I started at Woodhouse West in 1939. Mr Morris was headmaster. Staff included Miss Woodward, Miss Moody, Miss Pattinson, Mr Bailey...and the unforgettable no-nonsense Norah Richardson, who steered us through the ll-plus exam. The caretaker, who lived opposite the school in Sheffield Road, was Benny Rands, a onetime well-known Sheffield runner in the pre-war days of Olympian Ernest Harper. Benny's son Bernard went on to Woodhouse Grammar School and is now a well-known musician and composer settled in America where he became professor of music at Harvard University.

poshgirl
30-10-2008, 16:29
i went to woodhouse west started in 1975

me too mary lol
ias in miss belamys class got pick somewhere, mrs adams. mrs allsop mrs gardener. oh and miss kidd she scared me so much. we must know each other and i must dig out photos lol:D

not wanted
04-12-2008, 14:33
me too mary lol
ias in miss belamys class got pick somewhere, mrs adams. mrs allsop mrs gardener. oh and miss kidd she scared me so much. we must know each other and i must dig out photos lol:D

I started there in 75 as well

Roderick
27-12-2008, 06:19
Ahhh so happy memories of Woodhouse West.
I was there from 53 to 59...my older sisters and brother all went there as well.
I remember Mr. Vaughan...best headmaster ever, Nora Richardson...as said nobody ever crossed her, Mr. Thorpe....remember his old leather briefcase, Miss Moody...did she ever have a different hairstyle, Mrs. Griffiths...she had room with fireplace, Miss Bingham, Mr. Wallace, Mr. Beeston, Miss Tongue
I also remeber when school was remodelled...we sat in class in our coats it was so cold.
Does anyone remember Jacqueline Hardy getting hit by the bus on Coisley Hill and losing part of her leg

I remember Mr. Beeston ( Cocky ) who didn't like using the cane and Miss Richardson ( Nora ) Mr. Wallace ( Edgar ) my favourite Mr Thorpe - I can't remember a nickname but when he taught my class there were 52 children in
it and - I may be wrong - but I think Mr Vaughan's nickname was Ragman.
I'm not sure about Jaqueline Hardy's accident - but it stirs a memory

MarieK
23-01-2009, 22:27
i went to woodhouse west primary school in 1973 the headmistress as i remember was Mrs Kidd

sharonxxxx
24-01-2009, 10:18
i was there at that time yes youve joged my memorie it was mrs kiddxx

MarieK
24-01-2009, 10:29
who was your first teacher Sharon maybe we know each other

MarieK
24-01-2009, 10:30
you are the same age as me i guess we must know each other

sharonxxxx
24-01-2009, 10:32
i dont rememebr name of teachers youjogged my memorie on that one i just remember a mr porteous and a mr deeks he was lovley used to sing to you in class its alll a blur lol
my names sharon brown well was lol x do you remember me ???

MarieK
24-01-2009, 10:34
Mrs Adams was my 2nd teacher and i was in the prefabs ( i remember her because she scared me ) .. i cant remember my 1st teacher but my Dad can i must ask him when i see him next ... i was Maria Williamson and i lived on the Severnside Estate

sharonxxxx
24-01-2009, 10:39
my first day at school i remember the prefabs lol i dont recognise the name im affriad names i remember was wayne rymel he lived on there and paula blackwood (lovley coloured girl bless her do you remember her we was inseperable ......wendy ray ??? erm oooo am thinkin darren currie ??? ....julie plant ... does any of them names ring a bell ??

MarieK
24-01-2009, 10:41
no ,, i went to school with Lesley Smith, Josephine Anderson ,Donna Drummond, Theresa Stocks, Carl Lycett when is your birthday ? i was 40 December just gone

sharonxxxx
24-01-2009, 10:43
a few of them names are familiar im 40 in now so you was prob year above me i think xxxx

MarieK
24-01-2009, 10:43
yup i think i must have been

harmston
24-01-2009, 18:13
Hi maria K I remmeber those names you have mentioned, i went to Woodhouse west Jnr , i started there in Sept 1980, The teacher was called Mr thompson, a mad rugby fanatic, the other names i recall are Andrew Kinder , Paul Leighton,Paul Lambert,Debra Sharman,Andrew Crossland,Lisa Bumby, i recall all of the names you have mentioned, but the old grey matter is wearing thin nowadays, My name is Gary Dickinson, my younger brother Steven also went to woodhouse west he was 2 years younger than me, he would have been in the second year in 1980 . Anyone out there shed any more light on names and experiances at the school , Please reply. Gary

pentop
24-01-2009, 20:20
Any one remember Miss Daft ???

mary70
24-01-2009, 20:21
yes i had miss daft as a teacher

racheliggle7
24-01-2009, 20:29
shes still there. not as a full time teacher though

MarieK
24-01-2009, 21:20
Hi Gary , yes all of those names and yourself .. Lisa in on facebook as is Carl Lycett its great to still be in touch with them ,,, i had Miss Daft in M2 and Mr Thompson in M3 then Mrs Hurst with Miss Hayward ( who we called rudolf because of her red nose )

mary70
24-01-2009, 21:21
lisa lives next door but 1 to me lol

MarieK
24-01-2009, 21:22
small world eh lol

mary70
24-01-2009, 21:23
yep sure is woodhouse west will always have a place in lots of peoples lives i think nearly all my family went there

pentop
24-01-2009, 21:52
Yeah Miss Daft and Mrs Jarvis are still there full time, been there for more than 30 years !!!!!! they must enjoy it lol ???

MarieK
30-01-2009, 12:53
i was trying to remember Mrs Jarvis's name before she married , she married the teacher Jarvis from The City School . if im right he was a PE teacher but memory is preventing me lol


did Miss Daft ever get married then or is she still a MIss?


you should tell them to come on here and catch up with us all ! ;lol

MarieK
01-02-2009, 22:26
oh i would like a copy of that book any ideas where i can get one please?

m2mga
05-09-2009, 15:43
I went to Woodhouse West in the mid 60,s and can remember my Aunt teaching there , Miss Moody , Nora Richardson and Ben Thorpe, the one that liked putting you across his knee. Some fond memories off that school.

MarieK
05-09-2009, 15:48
Hi maria K I remmeber those names you have mentioned, i went to Woodhouse west Jnr , i started there in Sept 1980, The teacher was called Mr thompson, a mad rugby fanatic, the other names i recall are Andrew Kinder , Paul Leighton,Paul Lambert,Debra Sharman,Andrew Crossland,Lisa Bumby, i recall all of the names you have mentioned, but the old grey matter is wearing thin nowadays, My name is Gary Dickinson, my younger brother Steven also went to woodhouse west he was 2 years younger than me, he would have been in the second year in 1980 . Anyone out there shed any more light on names and experiances at the school , Please reply. Gary

I remember you Gary !! there are loads of our crew on facebook .. if you are on i ll try adding you and have a peep through my facebook friends to find quite a few x