Archived Topic
Topic ID 90
20/11/2002 by Craig
Musley Hill School
What's happening to Musley Hill School?
The year started with active campaigning to stop the closure of the school but It's still due to close next year.
Is the building going to be redeveloped and turned into luxury apartments or flattened to make way for ... well - who knows what?
Whatever becomes of the school it'll be a sad day for the town of Ware. Perhaps we could buy it from the council and use it as a community centre or youth club. How much is it worth?
I've heard that the building isn't even listed for protection though applications are going through now.
Daphne on Musley Hill thought the school had been listed years ago but now no one knows if it is or it isn't.
Who does own the school? Afterall, it was given to the town by Mrs Elizabeth Chuck in 1857, in memory of her husband.
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 370
21/11/2002 by Andy B
It's very nice to think "we" could buy Musley school Craig but where would the money come from? Would the people living close to the school want a youth club on their door step? If the building was given to the town in 1857 was there any proviso that it stayed as a public building? If the council sell it who would benefit from the funds raised? I expect it would be consumed into the council coffers. More questions than answers I'm afaid.
Reply ID 371
21/11/2002 by ray
i dont know about buying the place , but we could all chip in for the services of a very good solicitor to find out whether the council have any right to touch it let alone close a school and sell the building.
Reply ID 373
21/11/2002 by Andrew
I have the complete English Heritage record of all listed buildings in Ware (don't ask why) and I can confirm that Musley School is **not** listed. Thus unless English Heritage do list it the council can do what they like with it - even demolish it. If English Heritage do list it then I am sure it will only be at Grade II (the lowest grade) which means (I think) that as long the outside is kept intact builders can do what they like with the inside.
By the way, if people are trying for listing then they should also get the fives court listed - otherwise this interesting feature could still be demolished even if the main building could not. I am not sure how long the process of listing takes, but I think that English Heritage can make a temporary emergency listing to stop demolition. Whether they would in Musley School's case is another matter.
Reply ID 416
28/11/2002 by victoria
Following the decision of the Schools Organisation Committee the school will close in 2003. However we haven't stopped working. There hasn't been anything for the press to print yet. We are now going through a complaint to the Government Ombudsman. We have secured the help of a city solicitors 'pro bono' to help with this. It may be that in order to get him to look at the case we'll need to demonstrate public feeling too. In which case I hope you will all help us.
With regard to the listing. The school is owned by a charity called Ware Grammar School Trust and not the 'Council'. Musley leased the site from them. The Town Council have requested listing supported by Ware Society. It has been requested that both the school and the Fives Court be listed. We are waiting for the Government Inspector to give his decision.
4 replies