A Commanding Position

Extract from an article about the background to the building of Prudhoe County Secondary School:

"... a site was chosen across the river at Ovingham which, although excellent from an architect's point of view, would have been far from convenient for the majority of the pupils-to-be. When, at long last, through the nagging persistence of the Education Committee and by the grace of the Ministry, the time came to build a school, search was made for another site and one was found where it ought to be - in Prudhoe itself, albeit, becaus eof the physical conditions of slope, rock and former underground workings, a very difficult and an expensive site to develop."

"The school occupies a commanding position high on the Southern side of the river Tyne, looking over the township of Prudhoe to the wooded and agricultural landscape of the Northern side. The steep slope and the narrowness of that portion of the site which is sufficiently stable to bear the weight of a large structure made it difficult to plan the building but a triumph of ingenuity on the architect's part has resulted in an impressive and wholly delightful school. The configuration of the land and the large amount of rock close to the surface made it almost impossible to lay out playing fields except by terracing at a fabulous cost. This latter problem, however, has been partly solved with the ready and most helpful co-operation of the National Coal Board which has partly enabled the Education Committee to acquire a playing field on land [...] which is being restored after open-cast working and to use surplus spoil from this field to level other parts."

"The building is of steel-framed construction, with brick infill rendered with 'Stonite' on the exterior face; the natural stone used in the plinth course, quoin stones, entrance, and gable details is from the Springwell Quarries; the panel over the main entrance is of Broughton Moor olive green slate."

" A considerable number of the children will come from a distance and the school will consequently play a significant part in a wide community [...] and in drawing together children, young persons and adults from the Urban District of Prudhoe and from nearby villages it will tend to create a common loyalty and a sense of social unity throughout a considerable area on both banks of the Tyne."

"The school was designed and erected under the supervision of MR. C.C. BROWN A.R.I.B.A., County Architect, MR. J.S. HOGG, A.R.I.B.A., Deputy County Architect and MR. P. KEIR, Assistant Architect.
The Consulting Engineers for the structural work were MESSRS. L.G. MOUCHEL & PARTNERS, LTD., Newcastle-upon-Tyne; for the heating, electrical and water installations, MESSRS. CAIRNS & BYLES, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Quantity Surveyors were MESSRS. J.W. SUMMERS & PARTNERS, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The General Contractors were MESSRS. MIDDLEMISS BROS. LTD., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whose general foreman was MR. D. IRVING.
The Clerk of Works was MR. J. Campbell."