Churchside, Methley.
The Church of England School, front view.
The National School, the Church of England School,
Churchside showing the front (east) view plus the gable end of the School
House. The school was planned and built in 1847 and extended in 1859.
When it was first built on a triangular piece of land bordering the main
road, on part of the Kirksyke field, a School House was included in the
plans, also a long classroom sub-divided into two, plus a cloakroom and
in addition toilets in the rear yard. In 1859 an extension was added to
the south side, a long building at right angles to the first building.
On the 6th September 1897 there were 185 children on roll. It opened as
Methley Girls National School and the children paid 2d, and later 3d a
week to attend. Log Books of 1863-1883 and 1901-1955 are in the West Yorkshire
Archives at Sheepscar, Leeds. These contain many interesting entries.
In February 1943 Miss Jessie Travis became Headmistress when Miss Gleave retired. In 1955 when Methley schools were reorganised the school became an Infant School for the village until 1962, when a new Infant School was built in Little Church Lane. The building then became the Parish Centre for St Oswald's Church. In 1984 it was completely renovated and refurbished and officially re-opened on 31st October, 1986, as the St Oswald's Parish Centre.
This photograph was taken before the later alterations.
This wing was the 1859 extension.
The National School, rear view.
This photograph shows the old windows and the shape of the building and the old playground. In addition the west gable of School House can be seen.
