Council School, North Road, St Ives

Council School, North Road

Built in 1845 in North Road, the authorities demolished St Ives Council School in 1987, replaced by the Harvest Court development.

St Ivians remember:

When the abattoir across the road was busy, there was blood running down North Road. In later years, I spent several happy summer holidays tending the graveyard under the watchful eye of the cemetery keeper, Wilf Drury.

I remember the hall being divided into two after assembly and drawing art pictures for the Tokyo Olympics. Also writing the greek alphabet and walking in twos to the canteen opposite Cemetary Road school for dinner.

No playtime if there was a funeral.

I was there in 1961. Mr Frith was the headmaster. When there was a funeral in the cemetery next door, we all had to come in so that the noise of children didn't disturb the mourners. Children being children, we didn't understand why we couldn't go outside to play. We thought it was most unfair. And now it's a small housing estate!

The headmaster during my time was Sammy Frith, who brought his welsh spaniels to school most days. Misbehave and he would draw a face in chalk on a slipper and transfer it to your behind with a quick flick.

I went to this school when we first moved to St Ives. Mr Frith was the headmaster. He used to bring his old Spaniel, Prue, into school. Lovely man. Our Teacher was Mr Atkinson and one day in the winter, I remember the boiler in our classroom let out a sudden flame and burnt his eyebrows off!