Wishaw Press

Days of the old school yard...

Plaque unveiled

- Gary Fanning

A campaign has been completed to keep alive the memories of children’s school days at a former Wishaw primary.

C e n t ra l Wi s h aw Community Council unveiled a plaque for a stone at the old playground of Wishaw Public School.

During the Victorian era of the school, pupils used the stone to sharpen their pencils so that they could write on a slate in the classroom.

The plaque was erected at a wall on the former playground that is now part of Lidl’s car park.

The community council’s oldest member Irene Love was a former pupil at the school.

The former school was built in 1856 and used by generation­s of children in the town.

And youngsters from nearby primary schools got into the spirit as they were dressed in Victorian era school clothes with girls wearing dresses and the boys wearing hats.

Carol Anne Foley, c h a i rma n of the community council, said; “It is a piece of history in Wishaw.

“I think it is a great to show a part of history in the town.

“It will generate a huge talking point in the town as a lot of people attended Wishaw Public School.

“It is of huge historical value to Wishaw and it will be something for future generation­s to look at.

“They can go and see where their grandparen­ts or great grandparen­ts went to sharpen their pencils and they got take some selfies there.”

The campaign began when Robert McMillan, organiser of the Wishaw Memories Facebook page, contacted the community council about the slate.

He said: “I’d like to thank the community council for their generosity and also thank Mrs Foley for doing so much in preserving Wishaw history for future generation­s.”

 ??  ?? Campaign Community council unveiled a plaque for a stone at the old playground of Wishaw Public School. Step back in time Children from Wishaw primary schools dress up like how they used to be at Wishaw Public School
Campaign Community council unveiled a plaque for a stone at the old playground of Wishaw Public School. Step back in time Children from Wishaw primary schools dress up like how they used to be at Wishaw Public School
 ??  ?? Unveiling Community councillor­s, schoolchil­dren and former councillor­s Sam Love and Frank McKay at the launch of the plaque Old school days The girl dresses in uniform as it would have been in 1856 when the school first opened
Unveiling Community councillor­s, schoolchil­dren and former councillor­s Sam Love and Frank McKay at the launch of the plaque Old school days The girl dresses in uniform as it would have been in 1856 when the school first opened

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