Demolition is underway at the former St Aidan's School, Carlisle, which is due to be replaced by the £30 million, ‘state-of-the-art’, Richard Rose Central Academy.
SAVE Britain’s Heritage along with the Victorian Society mounted a campaign to save the Edwardian façade of what was originally the Carlisle and County High School for Girls. The County High School opened in 1909 and was the first secondary school in Cumbria to admit girls from all backgrounds and with all abilities.
Campaigners presented a 1,500-name petition to academy sponsor Brian Scowcroft asking planners to incorporate the entrance and old hall within the new academy. Sadly the fight ended in February, when Cumbria County Council approved the rebuild of the school.
Kier Construction began work on the school in March and it is expected to open its doors to pupils in 2011.
St Aidan's was turned down for listing by English Heritage yet there was no denying that the structure was of great quality, stability and had many points of merit. It was opened in 1909 having been designed by a well-regarded Liverpudlian duo, G E Grayson and E A L Ould. SAVE remains convinced that an alternative, such as supplementing the old centre of the school with new buildings, could have been achieved.
To watch the needless and wasteful destruction follow this link .
