Blackhills Road Junior School

A Memory of Horden.

I attended this school in 1978 to 1982 later going onto Dene House Comprehensive School. I loved this school as it has such character and at the time seemed massive however looking at the very few and I mean very limited pictures available now it looks average size. I remember the long central corridor that ran the whole length of the building with a central Door that originally divided the boys and girls way back when they were separated. There was a staircase just the other side of the door that led up to 2 abandoned classrooms that stored desks and chairs and Christmas decorations.This led into the main hall which doubled up as the gym and the other side was the dinning hall that was divided by huge wooden shutters. Further on down the corridor was the kitchens and store rooms and more classrooms. The teachers there at the time were Mrs Woodhall, Mrs Grand, Mr and Mrs smith. Mr Langan(excuse the spelling), Mr Close, Mr Grey, Miss Lawson and some other teachers whom I cannot remember. I also recall the embarrassment of the dancing that we had to endure at least once a week (The bloody barn dance). The yard was on a slope which was always good for marbles which was a massive craze at the time and also the toilets being at the top of the yard. There was a small outcrop of a makeshift garden that come off that and a prefab classrooms to the left of it and a stand alone double classroom in the centre of the yard which divided the 2 yards up ( the other being that used when the schools were divided) now just not used. I loved this school so much and miss it which was a shame they pulled it down as this and the church were the central of the village. I moved away down south and never got to see the old place again. If anyone has any photos of it please share as this is one place I wish was still here.

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