Images taken by
Phil Barber (JRSFC 1990-92)
during demolition
of the
JRHS Upper Shirley Road site in June 1992
Paul Graham (JRGS 1959-66) comments: Looking along the old cycle track towards the site of the Tuck Shop. School Library (top floor; what happened to the books?); Mr. Pearman's Chemistry Laboratory (middle floor); bike shed, etc. (ground floor). Portakabins on left. The bed in the foreground used to be a favourite place for Mr. "Joe" Lowe's bulb planting.
Paul Graham comments: The Last Rites. I guess this shows the main block with The Mill behind. Portakabin to left.
Paul Graham comments: Taken from the main road. We never used this entrance. Staff car park to left under fir trees. The Assembly Hall, Head's office (lone window), Tony Crowe's room over, Portakabins in background. You can just see what looks like a "development site" sign above and behind the coach. I guess this shot was taken just before the demolition got started.
Paul Graham comments: Similar to previous image. Formal entrance to administration suite and dining area. Shows headmaster's office window (I recall the view out of that). Mr. "Vic" Gee's Art Room half gone.
Paul Graham comments: Taken from near the caretaker's bungalow towards location of Mr. Murray's History Room and the Science Wing. Portakabins on right.
Paul Graham comments: Taken from the reverse direction to preceding photo. You can see the main entrance leading to the cloakroom corridor. What's the wall in front of the Portakabin?
Derek Charlwood (JRGS 1958-64) adds: This looks to me as if it was taken from the basement area of the cycle sheds, which was below ground level. (Anybody else remember it also being the ACF rifle range?)
Paul Graham comments: Dining area? Staffroom? This beats me for the moment.
Derek Charlwood adds: This is the Dining Hall, which also served as the main foyer. The serving hatch doors can clearly be seen, as can the main doors into the school on the right side. To the left would have been the inner doors, behind which we had to queue along the corridor waiting for each lunch sitting. There were some stairs leading to the first floor corridor, classrooms, Art Room and Mr. "Joe" Lowe's office.
Paul Graham comments: Not sure about this. Is this the old bike sheds/table tennis room/storage area below the Chemistry Laboratory, or possibly the staff room beyond? Notice the trees in the background.
Derek Charlwood adds: This certainly looks like the cycle sheds. As I remember there were two sections to it, and you went through one set of doors to get to the far end. Who else remembers doing homework using the outside window ledge of the cycle sheds, because at one end it was out of sight of the playground doors?
Paul Graham comments: The School Organ - very sad; Mr. J. N. Hancock's pride and joy, plus many others, both staff and pupils. Is that a Christmas decoration? Shows exit from hall to dining area. I am not convinced, however, this necessarily means that the organ was junked. Croydon Borough Education Department should be able to tell us its fate. The picture was taken only 11 years ago.
Paul Graham comments: The Main Assembly Hall and stage. I can still feel Mr. Smith's iron grip on my collar at the bottom of those steps whilst lining up for Speech Day, followed by "Go!" and a helping prod in the right direction. It also reminds me of Mr. "Fred" Field pacing about frenetically, shouting, cajoling, tearing hair out, chain smoking, during rehearsals for school productions. Door to Music Room corridor on right.
Paul Graham comments: Looks like the Portakabins (left till last?) and taken from under where Mr. "Vic" Gee's Art Room was, towards the old Tuck Shop area.