Birkdale High School, Dewsbury

Kirklees Council seek permission to demolish one of their schools:

Planning application details | Kirklees Council

Kirklees are looking to demolish a former high school that closed in 2011. The building dates from the 1930’s and was bequeathed to the people of Dewsbury by John Wheelwright (thanks to Facebook user Pam Schofield for this information), so presumably there is a covenant on the land that requires the site to be for educational purposes in perpetuity.

The Facebook group for the school’s alumni are understandably saddened by this news. The building is robust, and urban explorers have revealed that the beautiful interior remains in good nick.

This is a brilliant example of classicism in early 20th century modernity and the tail end of Victorian civic pride. Its a shame the Council can’t retain the arched frontage in some way. The vintage of buildings like this mean they fall outside of historically valuable, and they are being lost quickly.