History: of The Building

The History of the Building Do you have any memories of events at the Community Centre? Do you have any recollections of your school days here? Why not submit your memories to share with others? see bottom of page for details...
The centre was originally built as a school on the late 1870's and opened for junior children in 1881. The school was enlarged in 1905 and the infants were eventually transferred from the existing school in Fennel Street (Limes Avenue) in 1916. The Uttoxeter Road School continued as an all age school until 1948-50, when the senior children were moved to Pastures Hill Secondary Modern or Ashbourne Grammar School. The School then became the junior mixed and infants school with Mr. J.W. Best as headmaster. In 1957 the junior children moved into the new school in Vicarage Road. The school continued until it's closure in 1986. The building then remained empty until 1989, when Derby City Council decided to give it to the people of Mickleover, to be used as a Community Centre.
Mrs. Olive Nanson writes I went to that school when i was many years younger (i'm now 82). I have lots of happy memories of my time there. I remember a teacher called Miss Wilkinson and a male teacher called Mr Barker, his nickname was 'Bashum', any misbehavior and you were dealt a clip round the ear! Kids were taken in about 3.5 yrs old. Girls were in one side of the playground and boys the other. We lived in a cottage (a row of 8) called the "heights of Alma" on Uttoxeter Road, they are long gone. My name there was Olive Cooper, I don't think there will be many around when I was there. Very happy days & many happy memories Olive Nanson (formally Olive Cooper).
Do you know any history about the building? Were you a pupil here? Want to share your stories? Submit your recollections to: email: history@mickleovercommunitycentre.co.uk or write to: Mickleover Community Centre, Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, Derby, DE3 0DA