Well today really was a school day. Took a trip to see Scotland Street School.
This been recommended to me by a few people. And maybe had school on my mind because met some people from my old school today.
Now I have been to this school before. But that was on a school trip when I was in primary school!! So that was a few years ago now!! :)
Scotland Street School has a number of reasons that make it worth visiting. It is a wonderful building designed by none other than Charles Rennie Mackintosh himself. And it also houses a school museum which takes you through the development of education in Scotland.
The photo above is of the school building. Immediately as you approach it you see that this is somewhat unique from the other big red sandstone buildings you see around Glasgow (like the Washington Street School). The distinctive towers and all that amazing glasswork.
It was designed between 1903 and 1906. Mackintosh has a bit of a stormy relationship with the school board over a number of elements of his design. It served as a school until 1979.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_Street_School_Museum
If you walk around the building you will find a number of examples of distinctive Rennie Mackintosh design.
Once inside this beautiful glasswork becomes even more striking. It fills the stairwells with a flood of natural light.
In within the windows are these signature Rennie Mackintosh stained glass panels.
Simply beautiful.
But as I said the other attraction of this building is that it houses the school museum. This is a photo of the 50's and 60's classroom. Now I started school in 1974 and this still felt very familiar to me!! This museum simply brings so many memories of your school days flooding back. You could hear everyone walking about today saying "When I was at school..."
You boy!! Answer question four:
A wheel of a bicycle measures 1.25 yards around. How often does it turn on a journey of 1 mile?
A sign on the wall explaining "old money". Pounds, shillings and pence.
Decimalisation was a great idea.
And this brought back memories. These wee wooden blocks to help you count. White was 1, red was 2, green was 3 etc.
Any teachers reading this know if they still use these?
And was this the inspiration for Tetris? :)
The dunce cap.Don't remember this ever being used in my school days. Although corporal punishment, i.e. the belt, did still exist.
I didn't know the background of the dunce cap. Read here is you want to know more:
These objects in the cloakrooms are interesting. There is a sign asking you to guess what they are. Sinks? But no taps? Some kond of urinal is seemingly what most people come up with.But they are in fact just sinks. The water comes from holes in the front of them controlled by a central pipe turned on by the janitor. Maybe to stop the kids playing with the taps?
The museum also covers some of the traditional playground games. Hopscotch anyone?
The museum is really good for kids. Lots of interactive stuff, games, dressing up. And a massive selection of toppings for your ice cream in the cafe!! :)
But it was almost time for me to go. Have expected the school bell to ring to say that was the end of class. Funny how you get this weird flashback feeling when you go into a school.
But want to also mention the exhibition that is on at the school at the moment. It is of these amazing automatons. Little wooden and metal moving mechanical art works. Sounded bit weird at first but they really are endearing works. You can't help but go round them all pushing the button to see the ingenuity of the mechanism. The one above is of the 3 bears eating their porridge.
This one is a cat that drinks it's milk then falls over dead called "Poisoned Milk". Strange but somehow really amusing as well.
Included a wee video of this one to give you and some idea of the cuteness of these things. This one imagines life for a cat in heaven. It's called "The Great Fishtank in the Sky"
Really was a lovely place to visit, the unique building and a unique museum. And once again, as I have found in all the museums, really friendly, helpful staff that make the experience even more fun.
Scotland Street School right across the road from the Shields Road tube station to pop down there if you get the chance.
Be well, be happy!!
P.S. One last lesson in spelling today I noticed just next to the school on way back to the Tube station.
As always please do visit the Yorkhill Children's Foundation site if you get the chance:
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