Site:

Harry Taylor First School, Evesham Road, Crabbs Cross

Grid Reference:    

SP 0404 6475

Description:

Board school 1876-7 by E.A. Day with additions of 1962 by Frederick Hill. Brick with stone and yellow brick dressings and plain tiled roofs. Single storey with yellow brick plinth and sill courses. Main south range has projecting end wings, central gable and porches, flat-roofed with parapets, set in the angles. Windows have stone hoodmoulds with returns. Originally they were all stone and mainly of stepped lancets, as on the north side, but those on the south front have been replaced with modern casements.

Porches retain their pointed arches and quoined surrounds. Plaque in central gable inscribed ?Crabbs Cross Board School 1877?.

South boundary defined by brick wall, railings and gateways.

Significance:

Despite subsequent alteration, this Victorian school retains much of its original character, particularly in terms of its form and massing, and it makes a valuable contribution to the quality of the locality.  

History:

Built in 1877 as Crabbs Cross School.  Its name was changed in 1977 to honour  Harry Taylor M.B.E. Mr Taylor was a  Councillor,J.P.and School Manager for   25 years. He often visited the school,  particulary enjoying assemblies where  his favourite hymn was "Morning Has  

Broken."

The  oldest school in Redditch, many of the original classrooms were very  small with high windows that you couldn't look out of.The separate entrances for boys and girls still  exist but the children now mix.   Children spent their whole school life  at Crabbs Cross School but now move at  the age of 9 to either Walkwood or Ridgway Middle School. A new building consisting of classrooms, halls and kitchen was started in 1961. In 1977 a  book of extracts from the school log   book was published.