Report - Sunderland High School - August 2017

Krypton · Aug 21, 2017

Ever since I read in the local paper last year that Sunderland High School, a private £3000 per term school, was closing - I knew I had to go and have a look. I visited twice in July last year only to find staff still working in the school. Then on one August day last year I was in Sunderland and drove past only to see half of Hendon's population buying off bits and pieces for like a £1. I took this as a chance to have a look - only to find most of the doors locked. Disappointed, I returned a day later only to find a security company doing a pretty hefty job of boarding the place up with solid metal sheeting. I admitted defeat, but fast forward one year an opportunity unexpected arose and I was lucky enough to have my camera with me. There were some absolutely stunning parts of this complex of buildings, some pretty boring ones and still some more that need to be done. As its such a large site and some buildings are at the other end of the road I didn't realise until I got home.

On with the history:

Sunderland High School was founded in 1883 as an independent girls senior school. The school continued to grow and grow throughout the war years and more buildings were purchased. In 1988, the Sixth form became co-educational, closely followed by the school in 1992 after the merger of another nearby independent boys school. Despite its exceptionally good awards, ratings and results the school closed in Summer 2016 after reporting a six figure deficit, blamed on a massive drop of numbers, from 580 in 2006 to 280 in 2016.

The explore:
A pretty last minute thing. Looking back at my photos I can tell I rushed around so definitely want to return and try and get some better shots of the staircase area. I managed to explore three of the school buildings: Langham Tower, Carlton House and St Cuthberts Hall.

Langham Tower
Langham Tower is a substantial detached villa built in 1889 as a private dwelling for William Adamson - son of a influential shipbuilder and then later occupied by Major Cuthbert Vaux of Vaux Breweries. It was used as a Teacher Training College since 1922 and then by Sunderland University since 1975. In 2007 the ownership of the building was passed to the school and it was officially opened by former pupil Kate Adie. It housed the Modern Languages Department, Religious Studies, P.E. Theory, Media Studies and a Sixth Form Study, as well as a number of offices.

Main Entrance

South Side

Main Entrance

Entrance Hall

Entrance Hall

Main Staircase

Drawing Room with Rococo stucco ceiling

Drawing Room Fireplace

The Library

Library Fireplace

Toilet Block

Maths Corridor

Upper Hallway

Oldskool TV Trolley

Upstairs had lots of empty classrooms

Languages Office

Tower Staircase

Tower Staircase showing ornate detailing

Tower Room with further upper access for flagpole. Originally the staircase would have been hoisted up out the way with a counterbalance.

Creepy Painting

Oldskool Study Room

Exam Results Scores

Seniors Common Room

Another Upper Tower Room

Classroom

Lower Tower Room

Continued below...

Krypton · Aug 21, 2017

Carlton House
Carlton House is Grade II listed and is the oldest of the buildings, being built in 1851 for a purveyor of shipbuilders metal. There was no power in this building and some parts seem to have been disused for a while.

South View

Main Staircase

Treasurers Office

Treasurers Office

Sixth Form Common Room

Study Room

Classroom with Oldskool posters

Darkroom in the Attic

Original Kitchen with Range Cooker

St Cuthbert's Hall

St Cuthberts Hall was the original Main School building, purpose built in 1886/7. It housed the large main assembly hall, form rooms, English, Art and the school's main library. The use of this building was transferred to the newer ones in later years. This site also housed the History, Design Technology and Food and Nutrition departments, as well as a canteen. Unfortunately the Technology areas and Canteen were unaccessible despite trying every way possible!