Wilderspin National School facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Location | Queen Street, Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, DN18 5QP |
| Type | Social History Museum |
| Visitors | Total since 2009: 85,000 |
The Wilderspin National School is a special old school building in Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire. It used to be a 'national school' and is now a museum. The museum teaches visitors about the life and work of Samuel Wilderspin, who was an important teacher.
Building Design and Style
This school building was designed by architect William Hey Dykes and Samuel Wilderspin. It was built for the Church of England and a group called the National Society. This society aimed to educate poor children.
What the Building Looks Like
The school is a single-story building made of red brick. It has a roof made of Welsh slate. The style of the building is called Tudor Revival, which means it looks like buildings from the Tudor period.
How the School Was Laid Out
The building is shaped like the letter 'H' from above. When it was first built, the plan was for young children (infants) to be in the right part. Boys were meant to be in the left part, and girls in the middle. You can see stone carvings on each side of the building. On the left is the Royal coat of arms, and on the right are the arms of Reverend George Uppleby. A new part was added to the back of the school in 1935.
History of the School
The Wilderspin National School first opened its doors in 1844. It is very special because it is almost exactly as it was when it opened. It is the only known school of its kind, designed by Samuel Wilderspin, that still has its original playground.
Early Days of the School
When this school opened, it took over from a smaller school run by Isaac Pitman. The new school could teach over 100 young children, aged 2 to 6 years old. It is famous because Samuel Wilderspin himself taught there. His wife and daughter also taught at the school. Samuel Wilderspin even trained other teachers there.
School Closure and Protection
The school stopped being a working school in 1978. In September 1992, it was officially recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
The School as a Museum
After the school closed in 1978, a group called the Queen Street School Preservation Trust was formed in 1993. Their goal was to protect the building from getting damaged.
Reopening as a Museum
The building reopened as a museum in January 2009. This was possible thanks to money from several organizations. These included the Heritage Lottery Fund (£858,500), Yorkshire Forward (£760,000), and English Heritage (£198,000). Other groups like WREN Ltd, SITA Trust, and Glanford Building Buildings Preservation Trust also helped.
Visitors and Education
Since it reopened in 2009, the museum has welcomed over 85,000 visitors. More than 40,000 people have used its meeting rooms. Also, over 22,000 students have taken part in its special education programs for schools.
Awards and Recognition
The Wilderspin National School Museum has received several awards for its work.
Sandford Award
The museum has won a Sandford Award. This award recognizes places that offer excellent education about history and heritage.
Local Recognition
In May 2017, the school was named one of the top ten places to visit in North Lincolnshire. This was based on a poll by the Scunthorpe Telegraph newspaper.
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
In June 2018, the Queen Street School Preservation Trust received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. This is a very high award for volunteer groups in the UK. It recognized their hard work in saving and restoring the school. It also honored their efforts in providing museum and educational services.
Town Award
Also in 2018, the school's Development Officer received the Annual Town Award from the Barton Town Council. This award was given to recognize their volunteer work for Barton-upon-Humber.
Images for kids
-
Front (left)
-
Front (centre)
-
Front (right)
-
Rear
-
Blue plaque recording the construction and restoration of the building
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
