OldVictorian school on ‘endangered’ list
A FORMER Birmingham school has been placed on the Victorian Society’s ‘top 10 most endangered’ list.
Icknield Street School, near Hockley flyover, is in urgent need of repairs, claims the society.
Despite being partly used on the ground floor as a Hindu temple, its upper storeys are vacant. Water leaks from the slate roofs and gutters are now causing damage to both roof and walls.
Griff Rhys Jones (pictured), Victorian Society President, this week highlighted the plight of buildings on the 2021 list of the most endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales.
The school was designed by JH Chamberlain of Martin and Chamberlain, who created several of Birmingham’s now listed or lost Victorian buildings.
Mr Rhys Jones said: “Icknield Street School is a beautiful building that is at risk of being lost if essential repairs are not carried out.
“The rain damage will only continue to get worse. This must be addressed as a priority. The school is in a convenient location and the potential for repurposing is clear, as it is currently partly occupied. The council must act soon to both deal with the damage to the fabric of the building it is the custodian of and to find new occupiers to make the most of its wonderful Victorian space.”
The building’s high gables and pitched roofs are typical of Chamberlain’s schools, that were designed for hygiene and fresh air.
The accompanying headmaster’s house is also listed and in an alarming state of repair. Both are owned by the council and risk irreparable damage if a solution is not found.