ONE hundred-and-seven years of history at an Essex primary school will draw to a close today when the bell rings for the Easter holidays.More than 250 pupils and teachers at Harwich Community Primary School and Nursery, Main Road, will bid farewell to the Victorian building that has been its home since 1896.
ONE hundred-and-seven years of history at an Essex primary school will draw to a close today when the bell rings for the Easter holidays.
More than 250 pupils and teachers at Harwich Community Primary School and Nursery, Main Road, will bid farewell to the Victorian building that has been its home since 1896.
In its century of learning, the school – known simply to former pupils as Main Road School – has survived two world wars and the Great Floods of 1953, when the playground became a deep-water boating lake.
Among the school's alumni, former Braintree MP and Leader of the House of Commons Tony Newton stands out, but, on Wednesday, workmen will board up the windows and the building will await the next chapter in its illustrious history, possibly as an arts centre.
Senior teacher Nigel Spencer is convinced more high-flyers will emerge when the school moves to more modern Barrack Lane premises on May 1.
He said: "There's bound to be a bit of nostalgia, but really the building was designed for Victorian education. In the new premises, we'll have a modern hall, fields next to the school and an area for the pupils to grow plants.
"The children are looking forward to the move," he added.
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