The second episode of a second series of ‘Grundy Goes’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this episode a history of education provision in the Northeast and how the many changes over the centuries inspired architects in the design of school buildings. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing...

The second episode of a second series of ‘Grundy Goes’ produced by Tyne Tees Television and written and presented by architectural historian and broadcaster John Grundy about the building that people have constructed over the centuries to help themselves work, live and enjoy themselves. In this episode a history of education provision in the Northeast and how the many changes over the centuries inspired architects in the design of school buildings. Over a montage of John Grundy wearing various costumes and maps of the region the opening credits. Title: Grundy Goes… To School Presenter John Grundy comes along a school corridor carrying paperwork before entering a classroom. Inside a group of boys sit listening as John gives a lesson on the history of schools and schooling. As the lesson continues and as John writes key words on the blackboard, the boys become less and less interested until finally they are all asleep at their desks. Seeing what he has done John sneaks away coming into the staff room and as he takes off his jacket and sits down, he explains that in a former life he was a teacher and that buildings like this are familiar to him. Over a montage of a primary school classroom John explains that schools are familiar to everyone and that we all have our own school memories. Outside in a modern primary school playground a bell is rung as the children run about playing changing to a montage of various contemporary and historic schools and classrooms. Secondary school pupils leaving at the end of the school day changes to areas of a school that are out of bounds such as the boiler room and staffroom. As John explains that staffroom are ghastly, tatty and untidy places he suddenly appears in the doorway dressed as a Schoolmaster in gown and mortarboard telling John to get back class. Exiting the classroom John suddenly appears in the cloisters of Durham Cathedral. As he walks around them looking up at the cathedral’s towers, John explains how education started in the church initially for the training of monks, but later taking on responsibility for more general education. As he begins to talk about Bishop Thomas Langley who formed the Chorister School in1414 the film changes to pupils from the school today singing from The Choir in the cathedral. As pupils in gowns and mortarboards make their way towards the Chorister School in one corner of The College next to the cathedral, a montage of other buildings built in what John describes as the most dream-like townscape in the north, many containing features that are much older than they first appear. A montage follows of the Chorister School itself built in the Gothic revival style in around 1800. Stepping out of Durham Cathedral Great Door and making his way towards what John describes as another great public space in Durham, Palace Green, he talks about another school opened by Bishop Langley in 1414, the Grammar School. At the west end of the cathedral is its earliest permanent grammar school building built in 1661 by Bishop Cosin. A montage of the building with John providing a history and pointing out some of its architectural features. Standing on Palace Green John provides a history of Grammar Schools changing to him approaching the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School at Hexham in Northumberland that is still in its original form. He talks about the building being odd from architectural point of view and provides details of its bolection doorway that is nicely over decorated and the windows that seem older than they are and the School Masters house at a right angle to the west end. A montage of views of Barnard Castle School in County Dirham designed in 1883 as the county grammar school featuring both the school spire or pepperpot as well as portal entrance. Next a montage of Durham School on the outskirts of Durham itself overlooking Durham Cathedral in the distance. As boys play rugby on the sports field John explains how this much earlier school, a successor to Bishop Langley’s grammar of 1414, is everybody’s vision of what a minor boy’s public school should look like with porters’ lodges and its own chapel on a hill. Inside the assembly hall cum dining room at Durham School John plays both Grundy Minor who sucks a lolly as well as the Schoolmaster seen earlier who explains why this room was called ‘big school’. As John the Schoolmaster makes his way onto the stage, he talks about how this is linked to a ‘folk memory’ of when schools were only once large single rooms with classes sometime containing 400 boys. The two characters talk about the development of the Monitorial System which allowed older pupils to teach the younger children and the example of a schoolteacher being only seventeen years old. Over a montage of what was once the Bowes Academy in the County Durham village of Bowes alongside images taken from the Charles Dicken’s novel Nicholas Nickleby, John explains that the academy was inspiration for Dicken’s Dotheboys Hall and a savage indictment of the Yorkshire education scene. Back in the hall at Durham School Grundy the Schoolmaster raises a cane in the manner of Wackford Squeers, the character from Nicholas Nickleby with Grundy Minor expressing gratitude he wasn’t a pupil back then. Title: End of Part One Grundy Goes…. Part Two Walking through the grounds of Bowes Academy John comes and sits at a picnic bench talking about its history and an enquiry which found no evidence of abuse at the academy following the publication of Nicholas Nickleby. In a classroom playing again both the Schoolmaster and Grundy Minor, John provides details of both Dame and Common Day schools which showed that education for those not attending either grammar or public schools was in a dismal state. At Belsey in Northumberland views of the school there built in the Gothic style by the National Society as a charity school. John provides details on the work of the church to educate children, and the building itself as an example of hundreds of similar schools built across the country provided details in its layout and workings. Returning to Bowes the Bowes Hutchinson Church of England School and at Wylam in Northumberland The Old School are shown as examples of another type of charity schools paid for by local benefactors. Out of one of the windows at The Old School appears the Schoolmaster who explains how ‘too much education would be prejudicial to the morals of the labouring classes.’ Standing in the nearby garden John explain that this while there were opponents of universal education, it didn’t stop Charity Schools from being build. Over a montage of the schools around the region John explains that all over the country the ‘prettiest schools were going up’ many of which copied the designs of the associated churches. Over a view of the exterior of what is now Lady Waterford Hall, but originally built in 1860 as the Ford Village School John provides details on it architectural features built in the richly decorative Tudor style. Inside he talks in detail about the extraordinary biblical paintings commissioned by Louisa Anne, Marchioness of Waterford and the owner of Ford Estate to decorate the school room walls featuring both the children and their families from the village as models. Over a montage of archive stills featuring children in school John talks about the 1870 Education Act and the development of Board Schools changing to views of Ouseburn School on Walker Road in Byker, Newcastle built in 1893 as one of thousands of Board Schools set up because of his new act of parliament. Walking though Stanhope Park in Darlington John states that after a 130-year compulsory state funded education most towns have pretty much the same sort of school building. As children play in a terraced street and a back-alley John talks about the population in the town exploding due to the coming of the railway. Views follow of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on Vane Terrace described as a posh grammar school built in a leafy Victorian suburb that matches the surrounding posh housing. Again, John provides details on its construction and the man who designed it George Gordon (GG) Hoskins. Over views of another elementary school designed by GG Hoskins, Rise Carr Primary School on Elsdon Street in Darlington, John explains this is a typical example late Victorian architecture inspired by English buildings of the 17th and early 18th centuries. As John walks along a street of bungalows he talks about how during the 20th century Darlington expanded and how the schools that were built during this time reflected the periods they were built in. Examples shows include Alderman Leach Infants School on Alderman Leach Drive built in the 1920s and typical of that period. Next, Heathfield Primary School on The Broadway built in what was in 1948 the edge of town and built with curved walls and cubic shapes inspire by Dutch modernist architecture. Standing in the field nearby John explains that his favourite school in the town is Hummersknott Comprehensive School which is 20th century architecture at its most assured and comfortable. Again, a montage of this 1950s brick building with John pointing out specific features. Moving onto the 1960s Longfield School built to serve the estate on the newer edge of town with John reflecting on how the school echoes some of the architectural style of the houses that surround it as well as its own industrial features. Standing in the grounds of St Charles Roman Catholic First School in Gosforth, Newcastle John talks about this school bringing school architecture ‘bang up to date’. Opened only in 1996 John explains over a montage of the schools exterior how it is nice and warm, and brick built, exciting and friendly at the same time. Over a final montage of most of the schools featured in this programme John explains how schools have always been attractive buildings always contemporary in style, always a bit more architecturally adventurous and that it is nice to see that tradition continuing with St Charles First School. Grundy Minor puts his hand up and asks he could go to this school. With a smile John says yes, and the programme ends on Grundy Minor skipping towards the entrance. Credit: Written and Presented by John Grundy Photography Mike Parker Sound Paul Graham, Dave Venus Electrician John Hayes, Gordon Porteous Costume Tom Robson Graphics Alan Davidson Dubbing Mixer John Cook Editor Charles Slater Director / Producer Roger Burgess Title: © Tyne Tees Television 1998 End title: A Tyne Tees Television Production. © Tyne Tees Television MCMXVIII