Children’s plea to stop Blackburn school being demolished

The gang of local youngsters tried to prevent demolition crews from pulling down the former Mason Street school in Blackburn.

Former Mason Street School, Blackburn, 1969

For four years they had used it as their official covered playground.

The school – originally built for ‘wayward boys’ – had later become the domestic science centre for St Joseph’s RC Secondary School until 1965.

Four of the youngsters who had ‘adopted’ the semi-derelict building had gone to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph offices to make a plea for it to be left standing. Susan Orrell of nearby Lower Audley Street said: “We have always played in the school. There must be about 50 children who use it.

“Some boys have put swings up from the rafters and they play football in the old Girl Guide room.

“We can’t play in the street outside because of the Royal Mail vans travelling all the time to the depot nearby.”

Another young protester Jacqueline Caddens of Meadow Street said: “We just shan’t be able to play out of the house now. To get to Queen’s Park and Corporation Park you have to take a bus and there is too much traffic on Audley to play in the streets.”