wilderspinschool.org.uk   south-humber-collection.org   

Wilderspin National School

Address:
Queen Street, Barton upon Humber, North Lincolnshire, DN18 5QP

Tel: 01652 635172

www.wilderspinschool.org.uk

General information

Wilderspin National School The School is one of the most important schools surviving in England. Built in 1844 as a National School for Boys, Girls and Infants, it is unique because of its association with the educational pioneer, Samuel Wilderspin, the self-styled founder of the Infant School System whose influence spread far beyond Britain. Here in Barton we have the only surviving school and playground which Wilderspin helped design as a model school and where he taught and trained teachers for a significant period. It is the only example in the UK of a purpose-built Wilderspin school surviving intact. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. The School was closed in 1978 and, in 1993, the Queen Street School Preservation Trust was set up to save the building.

The School is one of a number of nearby public buildings that reflect social change during the nineteenth century: there is a Police Station and Magistrates' Court building (1847), the Oddfellows' Hall (1864), former Primitive Methodist Chapel (1867) and the former Temperance Hall (1843). Almost opposite the School is the site of the former Free Charity School known as Long's School or the British School. Isaac Pitman was a master here between 1832 and 1836.

The Queen Street School Preservation Trust has restored the School with funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Yorkshire Forward, English Heritage, SITA, WREN and the Glanford Buildings Preservation Trust. It is part of the South Humber Collection – a new visitor destination stretching along the southern bank of the River Humber in the shadow of the Humber Bridge. The Collection showcases the area’s leading wildlife, arts and heritage sites. School and group visits can take up to half a day and there are plenty of opportunities for linked visits to other nearby attractions in the South Humber Collection for whole day visits.

The School includes a full restoration of the 1845 Wilderspin Schoolroom with 150-seater teaching gallery, monitors’ teaching posts and working gaslights. Play was a fundamental part of Wilderspin's educational philosophy, and his Infant playground has been reconstructed, including a rotating swing reconstructed from specifications he detailed in his many published works. Rooms in the adjoining Boys’ and Girls’ National Schools have displays about Wilderspin’s work and travels as a peripatetic educationalist and a restored 1890s classroom which is used for role play sessions with Key Stage Two school groups.

Sessions for school visits also include the Wilderspin School Experience (KS1) and “Following Threads” (KS2) workshops linking art and history at the School and at the Ropewalk Contemporary Arts & Crafts – a restored ropery. A Wartime Evacuation Experience is planned for the spring term of 2010. A teaching space and lunchroom for schools has been created in the Aelberry Building annexe (formerly the Boys’ woodwork and Girls’ cookery block built in the 1930s).

After years of effort and the encouragement of many, a neglected historic gem of international importance in a prominent location in the town has been transformed. If you would like more information about the project or you would like to support the work of the Trust as a volunteer or as a Friend of Queen Street School Preservation Trust please contact the Development Officer, Ian Wolseley. The Friends of Queen Street School would welcome your support and will be arranging special events and offers for members. Our team of volunteers is growing too - there are lots of opportunities to become more directly involved helping to run the School - in our shop and refreshments area, as a visitor guide or "teacher", and providing practical expertise.

The Wilderspin National School opened in February 2009 and is open to the public Thursdays – Sundays from 10.00am – 4.00pm and on Bank Holidays. School and group visitors can be accommodated on any day. There is a shop, refreshments, car parking and wheelchair access. The School also has large and small rooms for hire for meetings, training seminars and community events.