The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-16 00:00:00

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SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1874.
THE SELECTED SITE FOR THE

BOARD SCHOOL.

WE are heartily glad to be able to inform I
our readers that the vexed question of a site
for the Board School has at length met with
a satisfactory solution. We are the more
pleased to be able to do this, because of the
numerous difficulties that have all along
seemed to beset the path of those who were
honestly and earnestly trying to solve this
problem. To any one uninitiated in such
matters it mu.st have appeared a very simple
work to have to do in a town like Stour.
bridge, where there is so much land to spare,
to purchase an eligible piece whereon to
build a school; especially when the Board
were known to be willing to pay a fair
market price for the commodity in question.
But the contrary has proved to be the case.
No sooner had the members fixedupon a spot
than they appeared to bring a hornet's nest
about their ears. Objections of the most
frivolous nature were made by parties who
fancied themselves interested. The building
of a school upon the proposed site would
prove an intolerable nuisance to the aristo-
cratic persons residing in the vicinity; it
would deteriorate the value of property in
its immediate neighbourhood to a frightful ,
extent; and so on, (A nmmealit. In fact, if it
it had been a gaol, or a lunatic asylum, or
even a large works for the manufacture of
some objectionable compound, we do not think
it could have aroused a more bitter opposi-
tion from the inhabitants. And troubles
from without have not been the least of the
difficulties with which the Board have had
to contend. One of their own body, from
reasons known only to himself, has thought
fit to exert himself in every conceivable way
to thwart them at every step, and openly
asserted that they had personal interests to
serve. Assailed thus, upon all sides, any
other body of men less conscientious, earnest,
and devoted would long since have thrown
theaffair up in disgust; and have either sent
in their resignations, or calmly awaited the
course of events and allowed Government to
intervene and accomplish by force the task
which they themselves found they were un-
equal to. But, we are happy to say, they
were made of "sterner stuff," and conscious
of their own honesty in the matterthey have
pressed on, and finally subdued all difficul-
ties. And we say this advisedly, for we do
not think that any fair person, who w shes
to see the cause of education advanced by a
Board school in the town can raise a valid
objection to the site selected. It is a piece
of land belonging to Mr. B. Brooks, facing
Hill Street, and is thus within a reasonable
distance of the Gigmill and Longlauds on
the one side, and of Bouchall on the other.
It is in a sheltered and withal healthy situa-
tion, with good approaches, and will afford
not only ample room for the school, master's
house, and all other necessary buildings, hut
will also have sufficient space for a large
recreation ground, in which the children
will be able in the intervals of study to en-
gage in those healthful games and gymnas-
tic exercises which are so necessary for
youth. When we further state that the
owner has generously offered it to the Board
at the very moderate price of 2s a yard, we
think we have said enough to convince the
most factious that it will form a desirable
investment for the purposes for which it is
intended, in every sense of the word. With-
out saying anything more we think we have
shown conclusively that we have reason for
congratulating the members of the Board on
their choice, and hope ere long to see a
building erected thereon which shall not
only amply fulfil all the requirements of the
"Department," but be an ornament to the
town, and a credit to the School Board.