They’re knocking my old school down. So what? Many old buildings are flattened now. It’s cheaper to demolish and build new, than it is to maintain the up keep of some of these old places… it’s just that, where I live, the older buildings, those with character and history get dumped! I’ve written on this blog before about my love of local history, so I thought I’d have a rant on here.
Holly Lodge Girls school began in the early 20th century as a paying school for young ladies. They stayed in the house, slept in what was to become the library when I was there. Over the years the larger houses surrounding the school, Victorian places called Freemont, Sandheys and Uplands, became part of it as they took on more girls. There were (was? I don’t know if they’ve filled it in?) duck ponds, trees, benches, hockey pitches and tennis courts. It sounds idyllic, sometimes it was. On winter days though, the rooms could be freezing and lessons were taught while you wore your coat and gloves. Rooms could be damp and pathways treacherous. Roofs leaked and the showers never worked in the changing rooms.
But, I loved it there. When I found out they were going to build a new school, I thought well, that’s progress etc etc Schools now need wifi and actual heating!! But I never thought they would knock Holly Lodge House down. The other houses have been saved to be turned into apartments, but the original building was not thought of value to even be listed. Apparently all its historical references have gone. The grand wooden staircase, the stained glass window (moved to the new school when it was built), the library, the tower … yes we had a tower, the source of many ghost stories. The rumour was, an original Holly Lodge girl had hanged herself up there, and if you were brave enough to go up and close the door behind you, she would appear! All gone.
So the land was sold off and despite peoples best efforts, history and character have been sacrificed for ugly new houses. Below are a few pics of it being demolished all taken by myself, the postcard was found on the internet, I could not find a name to give credit to, but it’s lovely. R.I.P. Holly Lodge House. 
Through the archway to the main entrance.
The tower, nearly gone.
How it was.
