zab 47 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 It's all looking a bit neglected and unused. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 How utterly sad, this beautiful, red brick Victorian building, standing neglected. I have memories of it once being the excellent Forest Fields Grammar school, just across the way from my best friend Joan, who lived on Ewart Road; her sister attended the school before it was transferred somewhere up Carlton (I believe). Also, the building was used as an annexe by Clarendon College for their Arts Courses. I spent many evenings (night school) in the building, where 'Life Drawing' occupied my time. The models employed were excellent: One was a young man, with a perfect body (proportion wise) and a goatee beard - he resembled the Greek God Pan. Another model was a middle-aged woman name of Mandy. She was fascinating to draw with her lived-in body - sometimes she'd turn up for 'work' complete with bruises. 'Mandy is a Rose hip, past her prime', I wrote above the drawing that I did of her. God Bless you Mandy, wherever you are........ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 At least he could hide his modesty behind his goatee............................ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Congrats Paulus on being crowned; don't let it go to your head! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zab 47 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 I remember doing photography there when it was part of NCN; does anybody know if they were the last users of the site? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Congrats Paulus on being crowned; don't let it go to your head! Many thanks kind lady......................... I certainly won't become full of my own importance, even though I'm obviously now only one short step from "Nottingham Royalty".............. Soon be time for your Crowning!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 All the Life and Work and Memories stored within this Beautiful Building; Please God, don't let it be knocked down. PS: Thanks to Zab for providing these wonderful photographs that have indeed provoked thought. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Paulus, I see it's already gettin' to your bonce, with your larger than life announcement. WELL DONE ME DUCK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Is this the school between Stanley & Bradgate roads, Forest Fields? it looks different on Google street views...................... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zab 47 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Very close Paulus, it's between Stanley Rd and Sturton St. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 he resembled the Greek God Pan. Two toes and very hairy legs ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SeanF 12 Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 What a great building. I agree that I hope it doesn't get demolished Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 513 Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 I was at school here from 1961-66. It was just a short walk from Russell Road where we lived. My father (1915-2004) also attended when it was High Pavement I left Nottingham in 1972 but was delighted when my daughter got a place at Nottingham Trent to study fine art. She's now in her final year and lives on Berridge Road so I get to visit the area quite frequently. I've noted the decline of this fine old building over the last few years but discovered it's Grade II listed. see: http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1270429&resourceID=5 Not sure exactly what that means. Perhaps it can't be demolished without Heritage approval. Does anybody know if that's the case? If you want to see it in it's original condition then take a look at http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/frontend.php?action=printdetails&keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;NTGM005234&prevUrl= I read somewhere that Nottingham Fire Service are using it these days. Before that it was known as ncn Berridge but they had to move out because it was becoming too delapidated Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jackson 301 Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hi Mess, you've provided interesting info. above. Grade 11 listed means: that the building may have any amount of improvements within but the external structure must not to be tampered with - permission may occasionally be granted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 513 Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Jackson, Thanks for the information re Grade II listing. Perhaps the council will renovate it one day. I hope so. I have great memories of the school and the area where I grew up. I visit Goose Fair most years and have seen the area's steady decline. My dad was born in Basford in 1915 and used to tell me what a lovely area Hyson Green an Forest Fields was. There are some wonderful houses on Noel St and Burford Rd which are probably all flats now. Leslie Rd, Foxhall Rd, Premier Rd, Wiverton Rd etc were all upmarket places to live at the beginning of the 20th century Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 513 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Share Posted January 3, 2013 I started my secondary education at Forest Fields Grammar School in September 1961 Oliver Barnett (1902-1975) was headmaster having been appointed in 1955 when the school was created. The building was originally constructed for High Pavement in the late 19th century but they moved up to a new building at Bestwood in 1955 and Forest Fields moved in. My dad who lived on Egypt Rd went first to Stanley Juniors around 1920 before transferring to High Pavement around 1926. Interestingly my sisters ex-husband became deputy head at Stanley in the late sixties. I've got sepia tinted photographs of my dad at both schools. He was also in the Boys Brigade based at Mansfield Rd Baptists Church. He used to tell me about the swimming pool under the school on Stanley Road which later became the boys changing rooms. There's a quiz question and picture of it somewhere on this site. In 1961 Stanley Rd was cobbled and open to traffic. It was closed off around 1963 and two Portacabins erected which became the physics laboratories. My first class was I Red with Miss Webb who was also Senior Mistress looking after all the girls in the school. Miss Webb was also an excellent French teacher and used to come along to the school Whit camp in Botley Hants. I was later placed in the B stream for the rest of my time at school. The A stream pupils all did Latin I was in Annesley House (house colour was navy blue) and Brian (Bomber) Smith was House Master. Brian Smith was head of Physics and also got involved in rugby which I detested. All the teaching staff wore black gowns and Mrs Mitchell a history mistress even wore a mortar board! All boys were addressed by their surnames and were expected to wear their blazers during lessons. Boys also had to wear caps until they entered their fourth year. Similarly for girls with their berets. I've posted lots more of my school and teachers memories about Forest Fields on the Friendsreunited site should anyone be interested Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mess 513 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Drove down Berridge Rd last Sunday and see the old school is covered in scaffolding. Did a bit of research when I got home and see the building is being refurbished. Fantastic news. For more info see: http://m.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20872 and also: http://www.wates.co.uk/news/work-begins-school-refurbishment-nottingham-925 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,029 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 The guy on the left looks like Terry Wate? I wonder if the company is in that Wate family? WORK BEGINS ON SCHOOL REFURBISHMENT IN NOTTINGHAM21 February, 2013 Wates Construction has commenced work on the £5.2m renovation of Forest Fields Primary School on Bradgate Road, marking a significant step forward in Nottingham City Council’s school expansion programme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Blimey thats brought back some memories. I was in the 14th bucket bashers Mansfield Rd baptist church in the early 60s we had band practice there on a Friday night. Jimmy the leading stick lived on Sturton St. We would then torment the local area with a Sunday morning parade once a month. Christine my first serious girlfriend lived on Leslie Rd her auntie owned the chippie across from the school on the corner of Stanley Rd very handy for chips after band practice. Great memories Thanks Colin Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 4,983 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 Didn't Terry Waite have an i in his surname? He does look like him though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zab 47 Posted February 26, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 It's good to see that there are plans to bring the building back in use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
piggy and babs 544 Posted February 26, 2013 Report Share Posted February 26, 2013 i am sure the people of stuton st and the rest of forest fields will be happy to see the building put to good use again it has been the target in the last couple of years of much vandilism and anti social behaviour it will be nice to see it in use again and maybe it will encourage beter use of the local community centre next door. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,029 Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 Kath Maybe you are right about the 'i' Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sussexred 23 Posted March 25, 2013 Report Share Posted March 25, 2013 My dad taught geography there from 1955-59 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
prcase 0 Posted March 22, 2015 Report Share Posted March 22, 2015 Happy to say that my old school, Forest Fields Grammar School (started there 1967) is now part of the Junior School Paul Case Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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