Mount Pleasant Junior School celebrates 125 year history following major restoration and refurbishment work
Mount Pleasant Junior School honoured it’s 125-year history with a special celebration event on Friday 22nd October. Pupils, staff and stakeholders came together to see the historic clock tower chiming once again and to officially open the recently refurbished library whilst commemorating the historic milestone.
Mount Pleasant Junior School honoured it’s 125-year history with a special celebration event on Friday 22nd October. Pupils, staff and stakeholders came together to see the historic clock tower chiming once again and to officially open the recently refurbished library whilst commemorating the historic milestone.
The school marked the occasion with the raising of a 125-year celebration flag, planting trees and burying a time capsule with pupils from year four treating attendees to a musical performance of a song, especially written for the occasion and performed with members of the Welsh National Opera. Pupils put a range of different poems into the time capsule to represent and celebrate the school’s heritage and to capture what it means to them currently and their aspirations for the future.
The school has recently undergone a significant refurbishment project, funded by Southampton City Council, to extend the lifetime of the school’s historic clock tower. The clock and bell hadn’t been in operation but now each of the four clock faces accurately tell the time with the bell ringing out each hour. Other works to safeguard the school were also undertaken in conjunction with Dartmouth General Contractors, including new fencing, CCTV and automated access. Meanwhile, the library received school funded investment to enhance and improve the facilities for the pupils to enjoy.
Originally called The Mount Pleasant Board School, it’s history dates to 1896, with the foundation stone laid on 28th October of that year. The building was purpose built by architect John Henry Blizard and local builders H Stevens and Company, with the entire construction process documented in archives held in the Sea City Museum. Notably, the school has an extensive basement which was used as an air raid shelter during World War II.
Mr Rashid Brora, Chair of Governors, from Mount Pleasant Junior School said: “Our school’s leaders and governing body have overseen many improvements to the school over the past few years to enrich pupils learning during their time here. As the recent refurbishment projects completed as our 125-year anniversary approached we thought it would be a great time to celebrate.
“It’s been great to bring the clock tower back to life, and for our pupils to hear the same chime pupils would have heard over a hundred years ago. We’re grateful for the support from Southampton City Council in funding the project. It’s important for us to educate our pupils about their school’s historic past and in doing so we’ve also reflected on how much life, particularly school life, has changed which we’ve commemorated in the time capsule, hopefully pupils in another 125-year will open the capsule to read about and see how the school was in 2021!”
Councillor James Baillie, Cabinet Member for Education at Southampton City Council adds:
“I’m pleased to see the clock tower has now been restored to full working order, marking a commemorative historic milestone for the school. The school’s leaders and stakeholders dedication to constantly improving facilities to enhance the pupils learning experience is brilliant and I hope the current pupils and future generations enjoy the continuously improving facilities whilst also remembering the schools interesting past.”
“We’re committed to improving the learning of children across the city by providing fantastic education opportunities and this is not only by providing new facilities but also by investing in existing ones.”
