TeeJF
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I'm not sure if this is the right "hole" to plonk this report in but I couldn't find nurseries anywhere!
A few weeks before we went to Berlin for seconds we did this site on the same day as another one close by. Much thanks and considerable kudos to Becci for her help.
The building is in a superb condition throughout and has clearly not been penetrated by the dastardly denizens of "The Sea of Moronity" as yet. It does not appear to have been empty all that long and there are a lot of bits and pieces still left lying around, not least in the kitchen area where coffee mugs sit on the draining board, washed up after the last brews had been finished. The bay windows at the front of the house - which is the down hill elevation - have been decorated with hand painted murals; sea creatures in one room, teddy bears in another, and the walls all the way up alongside the beautiful main staircase to the first floor have been painted with animals.
We have not been able to find out much in the way of history for this place though clearly it was not a purpose built nursery, but a converted Victorian or Edwardian stone built house, grand and imposing like so many others in the same town, and particularly in keeping with those on this particular road. The privacy here during it's occupation as a residential house must have been wonderful as the nearest neighbour is the adjacent college away to the rear right as you stand looking towards the front elevation. Of course this would mean that only during weekdays would there be anyone anywhere about, and presumably during holidays and at weekends silence would reign supreme, much as it did on the day we visited, for now the college building stands empty and there is little in the way of passing traffic up and down the road above the property.
We entered the building after a short wander around the exterior and explored the first two rooms at the front of the house - both had clearly been reception rooms during the period of residential occupancy, but had last seen use as children's play rooms. Through another door and we found ourselves in the hall with the magnificent staircase in front of us. The first floor had been used for a variety of purposes during the time that the house was a children's nursery, including administration - there was what appears to have been an office up here. beyond there was a large bathroom with a row of coat pegs at junior height. The top floor is accessed by a further staircase and appears to have been occupied by the caretaker as there is a completely self contained suite of rooms up there, with a fire escape down a vertical ladder through the floor/ceiling into one of the rooms below.
After exploring both of the upper floors we descended to the ground floor once again and discovered a piano in really good condition, guarded by a small and rather bellicose looking toy owl! From the ground floor we descended to the cellars and found another piano but this time it was a very different story, for the damp and humid atmosphere down there has caused the woodwork to bloom with white mould and to swell to the point where it is actually near impossible to get the keys to depress sufficiently to sound a note. Needless to say it is beyond repair now. It was clear that the cellars were also used for classrooms, if you can call them such in a pre-school nursery, for we found a charming portrait left behind of "Roy", presumably one of the carers, painted by "Alexander" who I imagine from the style of his artwork was one of the children.
What is planned for the Nursery now we do not know but something needs to be done with this building fast - at the moment the inevitable processes of decay have barely begun, but they will soon enough, especially if the chavs and metal farmers find a way in. There is little damp on the ground floor and above but in the cellars one room is so damp and mouldy the air is fetid and hard to breath. And woodwork down here won't last for long if that paino is anything to go by...
A few weeks before we went to Berlin for seconds we did this site on the same day as another one close by. Much thanks and considerable kudos to Becci for her help.
The report...
The building is in a superb condition throughout and has clearly not been penetrated by the dastardly denizens of "The Sea of Moronity" as yet. It does not appear to have been empty all that long and there are a lot of bits and pieces still left lying around, not least in the kitchen area where coffee mugs sit on the draining board, washed up after the last brews had been finished. The bay windows at the front of the house - which is the down hill elevation - have been decorated with hand painted murals; sea creatures in one room, teddy bears in another, and the walls all the way up alongside the beautiful main staircase to the first floor have been painted with animals.
We have not been able to find out much in the way of history for this place though clearly it was not a purpose built nursery, but a converted Victorian or Edwardian stone built house, grand and imposing like so many others in the same town, and particularly in keeping with those on this particular road. The privacy here during it's occupation as a residential house must have been wonderful as the nearest neighbour is the adjacent college away to the rear right as you stand looking towards the front elevation. Of course this would mean that only during weekdays would there be anyone anywhere about, and presumably during holidays and at weekends silence would reign supreme, much as it did on the day we visited, for now the college building stands empty and there is little in the way of passing traffic up and down the road above the property.
We entered the building after a short wander around the exterior and explored the first two rooms at the front of the house - both had clearly been reception rooms during the period of residential occupancy, but had last seen use as children's play rooms. Through another door and we found ourselves in the hall with the magnificent staircase in front of us. The first floor had been used for a variety of purposes during the time that the house was a children's nursery, including administration - there was what appears to have been an office up here. beyond there was a large bathroom with a row of coat pegs at junior height. The top floor is accessed by a further staircase and appears to have been occupied by the caretaker as there is a completely self contained suite of rooms up there, with a fire escape down a vertical ladder through the floor/ceiling into one of the rooms below.
After exploring both of the upper floors we descended to the ground floor once again and discovered a piano in really good condition, guarded by a small and rather bellicose looking toy owl! From the ground floor we descended to the cellars and found another piano but this time it was a very different story, for the damp and humid atmosphere down there has caused the woodwork to bloom with white mould and to swell to the point where it is actually near impossible to get the keys to depress sufficiently to sound a note. Needless to say it is beyond repair now. It was clear that the cellars were also used for classrooms, if you can call them such in a pre-school nursery, for we found a charming portrait left behind of "Roy", presumably one of the carers, painted by "Alexander" who I imagine from the style of his artwork was one of the children.
What is planned for the Nursery now we do not know but something needs to be done with this building fast - at the moment the inevitable processes of decay have barely begun, but they will soon enough, especially if the chavs and metal farmers find a way in. There is little damp on the ground floor and above but in the cellars one room is so damp and mouldy the air is fetid and hard to breath. And woodwork down here won't last for long if that paino is anything to go by...
The pix!
A panorama to start off with - click it and it will open in an interactive page so you pan it about to your hearts content!
The front elevation from the gardens...
In the cellars...
Directions? That's very helpful!
The first of what were two large reception rooms but are now children's play rooms...
The room has a teddybear theme...
This funny guy looks like he's off to commit a serious act of aviation!
Dolphins and sea creatures are the theme in this room...
Seahorses...
The coat hooks are still labelled from the last children to use them.
I have obscured the names to protect privacy.
Another panorama now shot in the hall - click it and it will open in an interactive page so you pan it about to your hearts content!
The magnificent main staircase...
Looking up to the roof skylight through the landing...
The staircase walls are decorated with lovely animal prints...
A deer...
is this Victorian or Edwardian grandeur?
Another piccie for Foxy Lady who also likes stair porn!
Teaching aids...
This looks like it might be an art room?
Clearly the chavs haven't got in here yet or this wouldn't be here! There's some question as to whether or not this started out in a different building not so far away?
The annual Nativity play. The faces of the children are obscured to protect privacy.
The Marie Celeste effect again!
Shameless self portrait!
Up to the attic and what looks like a self contained flat possibly for the caretaker?
The bathroom in the attic...
Back on the ground floor in the kitchens...
Waiting for the next brew!
A bit out of tune but in really good nick!
'ooo yoooo lookin' at?
About the only place where decay is showing, this room had an atmosphere so bad it had us choking....
I wonder who Roy was? I'm guessing Alexander was one of the children that came to the nursery...
The boiler room...
This piano in the cellar hasn't faired as well as it's brother upstairs
Th..th...that's all f..f..folks! Thanks for looking!
A panorama to start off with - click it and it will open in an interactive page so you pan it about to your hearts content!
The front elevation from the gardens...
In the cellars...
Directions? That's very helpful!
The first of what were two large reception rooms but are now children's play rooms...
The room has a teddybear theme...
This funny guy looks like he's off to commit a serious act of aviation!
Dolphins and sea creatures are the theme in this room...
Seahorses...
The coat hooks are still labelled from the last children to use them.
I have obscured the names to protect privacy.
Another panorama now shot in the hall - click it and it will open in an interactive page so you pan it about to your hearts content!
The magnificent main staircase...
Looking up to the roof skylight through the landing...
The staircase walls are decorated with lovely animal prints...
A deer...
is this Victorian or Edwardian grandeur?
Another piccie for Foxy Lady who also likes stair porn!
Teaching aids...
This looks like it might be an art room?
Clearly the chavs haven't got in here yet or this wouldn't be here! There's some question as to whether or not this started out in a different building not so far away?
The annual Nativity play. The faces of the children are obscured to protect privacy.
The Marie Celeste effect again!
Shameless self portrait!
Up to the attic and what looks like a self contained flat possibly for the caretaker?
The bathroom in the attic...
Back on the ground floor in the kitchens...
Waiting for the next brew!
A bit out of tune but in really good nick!
'ooo yoooo lookin' at?
About the only place where decay is showing, this room had an atmosphere so bad it had us choking....
I wonder who Roy was? I'm guessing Alexander was one of the children that came to the nursery...
The boiler room...
This piano in the cellar hasn't faired as well as it's brother upstairs
Th..th...that's all f..f..folks! Thanks for looking! 
