Brymbo School - The Old Building

Grid reference: SJ295539
Co-ordinates: 329500, 353997
Bearing: N

This is the building which formerly housed St Mary's School. After the old Secondary Modern School closed in 1972, the top two years of the junior school moved up into that building. Gradually, the whole of the primary school moved, and by about 1975 this old building had been abandoned to its fate. 'Fate' in this case meaning being used for some years as a warehouse for a local white-goods company, before falling into total dereliction. As of Autumn 2015, the whole building faced imminent demolition to make way for a dozen houses which will no doubt be priced beyond the means of anyone actually living here.

Above is the top end, where the infants (ages 4-7) spent their day. The 'top yard' was on the right as we look, and the red bricks scattered in the foreground mark the remains of the toilet block.

Grid reference: SJ295540
Co-ordinates: 329500, 354008
Bearing: SE

Above is the little courtyard at the Infants' School entrance. The doorway (now sealed up) is by the tree on the left. The yard sloped down on all four sides to a small drainage grid in the centre. Countless marbles doubtless disappeared down there through the years.

Grid reference: SJ294540
Co-ordinates: 329500, 354023
Bearing: SE

This stone is set in the gable of the top end.

Grid reference: SJ295540
Co-ordinates: 329538, 354063
Bearing: SSE

At the bottom end of the building, where the junior school (ages 7-11) classes were taught, this stone stands high in the gable.

They obviously didn't like chiselling 'U's in those days...

© Nigel Stapley

Footnote: See this for what eventually became of the place.