Tales of the Urban Explorer: St John's Old School House

in #hive-104387last year

St John's School House had not been on the agenda. It was another of those drive by dodgy buildings that we spotted en route while looking for something more interesting.

I did find a few musings about this school from former students who said mostly good things, some from the early 1960's. Who says old people can't use the internet?

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While some schools could have been actually decent in within this era, maybe I have listened to 'The Wall' a little too much, and that it has clouded my mind somewhat about this period of school time.

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'St Johns school long ago when it was not falling to pieces and contained real solid walls

As far back as 2017, permission had been granted to demolish St John's School and yet here it is, still a blight on the local neighbourhood.

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The thought of this old looking building situated next to an old church being a Painter and Decorating Training centre is absurd. It always resembled a school to me, the architecture style betraying its former origins.

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We slipped down a side road not really relishing climbing the old but sturdy looking fencing that was situated next to a main road in full view of many passing cars.

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St John's looked as wrecked as they come but we still wanted a glimpse inside at the devastation of what remained.

Some old fencing was trying to deter us but frankly blowing it over would likely collapse the entire lot, and it wasn't long before we spotted a break and slipped through.

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Inside was extremely overgrown, and making our way to the main building was akin to tunneling through waves of thick green shit... every which way we turned.

The blackened roof told me it had been subjected to fire, and this was confirmed after a little digging on the internet.

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Some areas were strictly off limits and to be honest, why the fuck would you want to go over there?

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This scene was a little surreal and out of place. Most everything was burnt or gone besides the canopy, table and chair. All that was needed was a living zombie to tell us to sign the register, and give us a toothy grin and smile.

It reminded me of a polling station check in station. Old schools are often used for such purposes.

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The archway could have housed a door once. What I was seeing was so far gone, the exterior and former interior were indistinguishable.

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A few aids were present at strategic places, ones we took full advantage of. For once the chair did not crumple under my weight. Maybe I'm not such a fat bastard after all?

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The former pupils would have been forced to go to church at regular times, both singing hymns and praying. I can speak from personal experience of my childhood about this.

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As a non practicing atheist I find these practices disturbing. Fortunately the UK seems to be mostly ignoring religion, especially when it comes to the younger generation.

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This gap was a little narrow to squeeze through; fortunately there were alternative routes to access all features of this derelict shit-tip.

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Japanese Knotweed is not dangerous to us, but can structurally break up buildings due to its aggressive growth. I was surprised to find that properties with these rampant triffids growing nearby are tough to sell unless specialists are brought in to kill it all.

Sticking a big sign for everyone to see is hardly a selling point and the warning that 'it's an offence to take cuttings is frankly bewildering'. What sadist would want some of this to plant in their own garden?

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I can see St John's gradually decaying even more until the demolition boys move in.

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They had better rip up all the Knotweed while they are at it, or else any new properties built here are not going to sell easily.

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This was the last entry in the Stoke on Trent visit, but we would be back within a few weeks to mop up the remains. It had been a productive day, but a little on the derpy side.

We hoped our next visit might yield something a little more varied.

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Explore, explore, lucky no old school ma'am came out to wrap your knuckles not going full tilt at the church next door....

Our public schools never had church alongside, only the private Catholic church schools here, we dodged the bullet..., although assembly all had to recite the prayer.

Time for this one to go!

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Our public schools never had church alongside, only the private Catholic church schools here, we dodged the bullet..., although assembly all had to recite the prayer.

The junior schools practiced this and some still do. I was not Catholic and my old school was next to a church. The school has since been demolished, the church remains. We have thousands of them here.

Our schools still remain and in use, our original church was demolished years ago for freeway to be built and moved, all still in relatively good condition to my knowledge.

Living in a country with many languages in play, most still remain segregated in the language aspect, as it was so it still is.

It is such a shame that this school has gone to rack and ruin. I will never understand why people want to burn old/disused buildings down. I recall being forced to attend church as a kid at high school, I hated it. I tried to hide in the library but was marched out of there and forced to sit in a minibus with a load of teachers. They sat on seats and I was forced to sit on the floor at their feet how humiliating.
I was wondering, if you had ever explored an old police station or a hospital?

if you had ever explored an old police station or a hospital?

I have... and both. Hospitals are the creepiest explores ever but the old Victorian ones are nearly all gone. Ridge Lea in Lancaster was the last one I did.. and alone!

Police stations are not so common, but I have done several.

Brother, your photos are very beautiful. And the school is very beautiful. That's why your photos are so good.

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Another very interesting place and a lot of almost "picassian" shots @slobberchops friend...

But, geez, this looks so weird it's almost scary:

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Incredible and surreal!

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The desk and chair were strange, how they had lasted so long whereas everything else has decayed. There was literally nothing else inside.

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is this in Europe? so many abandoned building. the weeds and trees have all grown up.

!PIZZA

Yes , the UK

Having to be forced to go to church caught me! Just reminding me of my college days in the seminary. Being in the church 5 times every day. That was rather too much

Sounds like more than a little much. I feel I could be doing something useful than being there. My opinion but not the opinions of religious people.

It's rather a valid opinion.

It's sad to see something decay like this, but I find places like these fascinating and interesting as I think I have commented to you before. The Japanese Knotweed was interesting...and introduced species (assume so based on the name). I've not heard of it before though.

Becca 🌷

What confuses me about this is how small the school actually is.... Compared to the school I went to it's tiny as fuck.

Laughs I won't mind doing a similar adventure here in my town by visiting all the abandoned buildings... BUT I'd most likely only find needles and feces and not to mention that all the windows frames and doors along with the ceilings would be stolen... It'll just be a empty cinder block😂

Compared to the school I went to it's tiny as fuck.

It was likely an junior school. Many have closed now and some have been made into houses. I know of several which were smaller than this.., they probably do make nice large houses.

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The photos effects make them incredible to look at...this could have been a good school if not abandoned..

!PIZZA

this could have been a good school if not abandoned..

I found an old link detailing ex-students comments but it's gone west somehow. As I am away (on holiday), and haven't got a proper desk to work from I won't try and find it.. as my back is breaking sitting on this makeshift chair.


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What an old structure, the clock tower looks like the one from the PSX Resident Evil 3 game, very nice photos friend.

all photos are awesome😍😍😍

Another good find there. Reminds me of some of my past that has lead me to be a recovering catholic. ;)

I always fancied the notion of scooping up an old unused church or country schoolhouse to rebut but into a new funky home. The more I see the places you visit, the farther it slips from my mind. Happy just to explore them with you.

There's many an old church for sale, one is close to my mothers house. Nobody wants them, as they are generally protected buildings, very old and dropping apart. They make for good explores tho!

The 'polling station' was quite unexpected ! Nice brickwork on the arches - cant say much more than that ! Time for the wrecking crew to level it !

LOL, yes this one was a shitheap.., it needs to go!