Longlands Primary School, Sidcup, Kent

Image: © Roger D Kidd Taken: 3 Aug 2008

The Edwardian school was built in stages in 1905, 1907 and 1910 to replace an earlier temporary hutted building known locally as the 'tin school', the roof being made of galvanised iron. The school (1905 bit?) cost £3,822 to build. Other extensions and additions are late 20th century, maybe even after 2000. Until 1935 children up to the age of 14 were accommodated here, initially opening on 23 October 1905. This is the view from what was part of the junior playground. The recent brick entrance with extension on the right hides the original juniors entrance by which a six feet high wall ran northwards to the "air raid shelters" (?) near which was around arched doorway into the infants playground. A matching infants entrance was situated on the main building on the other side of the wall. Both entrances led to cloakrooms, then into the main hall. Very practical, those targets on the wall, one of the few windowless surfaces at which a ball could be thrown. We didn't have those in the 1950s. Which bright spark decided to impede their use by putting a bench table in the way? Notice the horizontal black bricked line along the building, angled at 45 degrees. We used to throw a ball from about five metres (or yards, as we called them!) and catch it as it rebounded back into the air. Counting in fives the game was to succeed in achieving this as many consecutive times as possible without missing the bricks and the ball touching the ground, or dropping the catch. Then your mate had a go. I wonder if the bell is still in the bell tower. I never heard it ring. (Thanks to the school's own website for some of the historical information).

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