inner–london schools 1918–44 a thematic study - English Heritage

of the classroom range is pared down to a series of brick piers which separate seriesof French windows. The architectural integrity of this important school has beencompromised by unsympathetic window replacements.Hanover Street School, L BIslington of 1931-32 is again arebuilding of a triple-deckerBoard school on a crampedsite between the Regent’sCanal and Noel Road (thenHanover Street). The sitewas enlarged through thedemolition of twelve housesadjoining to the west, whichallowed the new schoollower-density classroomaccommodation. The newschool was for infants andjuniors only, reflecting theinfluence of the Hadowreports (see page 13). Itsappearance, judged ‘mostunusual’ by Bridget Cherry,is a response both to thelimited site and the LCC policyof open-air classrooms. 9 Thecentral classroom block issingle-banked, and the halland practical workshops sitedon angled blocks located atFig 54: South elevation of Hanover Street School, L B Islington,(LCC AD, 1931-32), overlooking the Regent's Canal. (L M A :SC /PHL /02/0243 - 6; City of London, London Metropolitan Archives).each end. All three storeys have open air elevations to the south, with full-width Frenchwindows opening onto balconies overlooking the canal, and centrally-pivoted windowsover. A roof playground is carried on full-height piers which project forward of thecorridor elevation to present something of a portico to the street. The elevations of theend-blocks mix the giant order theme with art-deco brick detailing.‘Semi open-air classrooms’ were also incorporated at the North Hammersmith CentralSchool, L B Hammersmith and Fulham of 1930-31, which accommodated 400 childrenfrom the contemporary Wormholt estate. It is a two-storey school of U plan, with asingle-banked, south-facing classroom block flanked by a hall, workshops and ancillaryaccommodation. The first-floor classrooms were originally accessed by an open galleryor covered way supported on brick piers. The ground-floor open-air classrooms havetwo pairs of French windows with clerestorey windows over. Teachers and educationalinspectors soon staged a backlash against ‘draughty classrooms’, and in subsequentclassrooms French windows were replaced by a large area of fixed glazing. With afew years of construction, the LCC infilled open verandas and covered ways at severalschools. 10© ENGLISH H ER I TAG E 43 - 20 0957