The School

The School

History

The school was founded in 1910 as “Yeadon and Guiseley Secondary School” … it changed its name to AGS in 1937, following the merging of Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon into Aireborough. In 1960 (when our year was in the Lower 6^th form) it celebrated its Jubilee, with a number of events (including a Thanksgiving Service) and the publication of the “History” by Alan Dobson. There was another celebration in 1985 to mark the 75^th anniversary, but in 1991 it was closed and its pupils moved to one of the surrounding comprehensive schools.

More to come.

The school as it was

(photo from Facebook)

During demolition

(photo from Facebook)

Also during demolition

(photo from Facebook)

While we were there

There was the main school building, with tennis/netball courts behind it, and alongside it to the West the “Annex” (rooms X, Y and Z), a pre-fab building (which was demolished soon after we left and replaced by a multi-storey block. Behind the school was the netball court, and behind the annex was the hockey field – also used for cricket practice at times – that we often walked round during breaks. Nunroyd Park opposite the school was used for football in winter and athletics and cricket in summer.

Inside the main building, the top floor held “practical” rooms – Biology, Geography, Art, Physics and Chemistry labs, and a Domestic Science block – plus the prefects’ room. The ground floor held the assembly hall, head and deputy and secretary rooms, and classrooms. In the basement was the swimming pool, gym, woodwork and changing rooms (and the radio shack, constructed during our time).

Behind the swimming pool were the cycle racks and the “frog-hole” (when at primary school, we were told tales of first-formers at Aireborough being dropped down the frog-hole, and no doubt left there to die a lingering death …).

The school was divided into four “houses” …

Cavendish (red) Named, I think not for the scientist but for the Dukes of Devonshire, who owned land around Bolton Abbey.

Coverley (yellow) Commemorates Sir Roger de Coverley, a fictional character of literary fame, who had connections with Calverley and Esholt. I seem to remember a country dance named after him (or, after his grandfather of the same name). Read more on Sir Roger de Coverley | fictional character | Britannica, or about the dance on Roger de Coverley - Wikipedia.

Fairfax (green) Named for the Parliamentary General of the Civil War, who had a house at Denton Hall, near Ben Rhydding. Read more on Thomas Fairfax - Wikipedia.

Forster (blue) Named for W E Forster, the Quaker educationalist who was MP for Bradford (hence presumably Forster Square Station); read more on William Edward Forster - Wikipedia. He lived at Lane Head House, in either Nether Yeadon or Little London, Rawdon (can anyone pin-point that house?).

Academic and sporting merit earned “points” for the house, and these accumulated into annual championships, girls and boys.

There was a thriving Old Scholars Association (AGSOSA), and while we were in the Lower 6^th they formed a Gilbert & Sullivan Society, with Mrs Mackay as musical director and Mrs Curry as one of its early producers – that went by the wonderful acronym of AGSOSAGSS; it later became the Aireborough G&S society, who still put on performances in Yeadon Town Hall.

What’s left now

The school site was demolished in 1991 and is now a housing estate. Some of the stone was reused in the houses. The main entrances were blocked in, and all there is to see that is noticeably from the old building are the four place names (Rawdon, Yeadon, Guiseley, Menston … that used to be high on the walls of the school building) – these are embedded in the boundary wall facing the A65 road. The roads in the housing estate are named for two of the “houses”; Coverley Rise, Coverley Garth, and Fairfax Grove.

Some of the school furniture and assets were retained. Some of the memorial boards are on the walls of Yeadon Town Hall : other items have been saved by David and June Longley, and are stored in Rawdon Library (you may need to contact them to arrange access) … does anyone know of any other locations where “assets” are kept? According to a Facebook entry, some things from AGS went to Benton Park – anyone know what?

Here are some of the photos of the “remains” …


The Roll of Honour (DL) Originally on the back wall of the hall. Note the name of Hedley Verity.	The head’s chair and lectern (both by Robert “mouseman” Thompson of Kilburn); photo from Facebook. Sent to Fieldhead Road school, Guiseley.

History

While we were there

What’s left now

Further Reading