• The site
• The Interior
• Proposals for future use
• Facilities which could be available
• What needs to be done
• Who might use the building?
• A few possibilities
• Who would run it?
• Funding

click on pictures to see larger image

The site

The College site has grown over the years to cover the area stretching back to the Grand Hotel, and over to King's Road. With the exception of a 1950's Egyptian Art Deco stone doorway on Links Road, the later buildings have little external merit. Inside however, there are many classrooms ,a purpose built theatre, a dance studio, a gym with sprung floor, and a library.

These buildings are not part of the Grade 2 Listing which applies to the Edwardian part of the college. They are being demolished and the facilities they have offered will be lost to the town forever.

The Grade 2 Listing by English Heritage achieved by the Lytham St Annes Civic Society in February 2000 illustrates the historical and architectural importance of the Edwardian college.The whole site has been bought during 2001 by Newfield Jones Homes from the Blackpool and Fylde College. We understand the College has spent the proceeds on its Palatine Road Blackpool site, in particular on a car park. The developers have permission to redevelop the more modern parts of the college and they are being demolished. They have permission to convert the listed part into 21 apartments. If this happens, many historic features will be lost

History of the college

The College buildings on Clifton Drive South, St Annes date from 1907 - a time when the community of St Annes, ( a town only begun in 1875) was growing rapidly. As the demand for education and leisure facilities has grown over the years, there have been a number of extensions. The site now extends as far as the Grand Hotel at the rear.

The original College buildings are a vital part of the street scene of historic St Annes. This area has in the past been considered for Conservation Area status and we believe this should be pursued. It was designed by the founding fathers of St Annes to be the cultural centre of the town. The college and Carnegie library have had it is said a "symbiotic" relationship - they need each other. These are community cultural buildings and they should not be lost to the town.

The strong design of Accrington brick, with stone surrounds to doors and windows and tall Dutch gables is distinctive, and in a dominating corner position. The College is part of an important group centring on the cross-roads of Clifton Drive and St Thomas’s Road. The Carnegie library ( JD Harker, 1906, listed), St Thomas’s church (Austin & Paley 1895-1905, listed), Richard Peck House, and a number of fine St Annes houses of similar date are an important group. At the rear of the site towards the sea is the Grand Hotel (1897, listed), and the Victorian sea front gardens (registered with English Heritage).

The building was designed by the County Architect Henry Littler . He was also responsible for the Lytham Magistrates Court (listed) . The builder was Thomas Cottam of Preston. (Information from the Blackpool Times 2nd October 1907.) Glazed brick faience was supplied by the Leeds Fireclay Co.

The original building was roughly rectangular with a stone entrance stair onto gardens facing Clifton Drive, the main approach into town. Its foundation stone was laid in 1906, the date in the later stonework is 1907. It was opened on 30 September 1907 by Sir Henry Hibbert, Chairman of Lancashire Education Committee. It was soon after extended, probably by the same builder, to form an L shape, with more Dutch gables extending into the adjoining Links Road. A sizeable toilet extension was added to the rear.

The size and design of the building makes a considerable statement of confidence in the growing town of St Annes. It was a very prosperous place, favoured by industrialists and investors from East Lancashire in particular.

The interior

Inside, the building has been little altered. There are three floors of classrooms and smaller offices. The entrance hall has decorative plaster cornices, and terrazzo flooring.

Upstairs there is a very light purpose built Art Room, large enough for use as a performance space, with exposed roof timbers.

Internal tiles were supplied by Messrs Williams of Manchester. There are tiles to dado height in all the corridors.These have been painted over but are of a green and yellow coloured Art Nouveau design - a few unpainted ones remain in the toilet. As far as we can see all the rest are still in place.

Stained glass is by Steward of Lancaster. The central stone stairwell has an arched stained glass window, decorated with the red rose of Lancashire.

	The stained glass window over the front door has the motto "SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX EST", (the welfare of the people is the highest law). It can only be read from the inside.
This, with its associated pictures in glass of lighthouse and pier, boat, lion, and lifeboat memorial are a rare if not unique survival from the old St Annes on Sea Town Council. The crest of the Cliftons of Lytham Hall is above the shield. The borough of Lytham St Annes was founded in 1927, amalgamating the two towns. The colouring and pattern of the glass echoes the interior tiling.

As far as we know, doors and windows etc. are all original.

We believe that the loss of this building would be a great loss to the street scene in the area. It merits protection as an example of Edwardian architecture which tells us a great deal about the attitudes and aspirations of people in St Annes at the beginning of the 20th century.

We are putting forward proposals to preserve community use in the oldest part of the building

Proposals for future use

The whole of the St Annes College campus has been deserted since February 2000. This means that a tradition of education on the site dating from 1907 will end - unless we are able to save a part of it for community use.

We believe that it is possible to save a proportion of the site for the use, education and enjoyment of the community. In the regeneration plans for St Annes there is emphasis on the economy of the town, shopping, restaurants, parking, and tourism. More and more flats are being built near the town centre. The YMCA a re expanding their facilities in St Albans Road. Now is the time to provide a cultural centre for the increasing population and the college could be the ideal place.

Chris Smith, Culture Secretary, recently said:

"There is an enormous amount of evidence that where you have a really vibrant arts project you get a real buzz of confidence within a community. This is the starting point for economic and social regeneration."

Above the doorway, in its Art Nouveau stained glass is the motto SALUS POPULI SUPREMA LEX EST - "The welfare of the people is the highest law" . This is a building for people to use, not for developers to demolish.

Facilities which could be available

The college is on 3 floors with 4 large rooms on each floor. The top floor has a wonderful purpose built art room with a lofty ceiling, big enough for a performance space, perhaps with retractable seating. The other rooms could be opened out with dividing doors to provide flexible spaces. Several of the rooms are already wired for computers. There could be a catering facility.

What needs to be done

 Each of the 3 floors is a level area so that with the provision of a lift the whole building would be accessible for the disabled.

Once this part of the building was isolated from the rest of the site repairs would have to be carried out as it has been neglected of late. However we should not forget that it is a building of good quality and sound workmanship. It is not an "eyesore" - a term popular with those who wish to demolish, it only needs maintenance like any other building.

Restoration of original features would be well worthwhile. In particular, we should see again the brightly coloured art nouveau tiling ( painted white), which is still in place on all the corridors and the stair well.

Who might use the building?

One of the keys to the success of the Assembly Rooms in Lytham was the decision to let part of the building to one or more commercial tenants. The basement would be suitable for all sorts of small businesses, such as printing and computers. Publicly funded bodies such as Age Concern are said to be looking for a new base. The library or the County Information Service may be able to take up space.CAB need a new local HQ.

The existence of a commercial tenant would enable meeting rooms to be hired at a price local groups can afford, and the facility would be very popular. There are many local groups who would appreciate a comfortable meeting room in St Annes on a regular or occasional basis. There should be enough space to allow storage facilities for them too.

A few possibilities

• Extramural classes - WEA, University extension studies, U3A.
• Rehearsal and performance space for musical and drama groups.
• Music exams.
• Meeting rooms for charities and other groups.
• Charity coffee mornings.
• Small conferences, perhaps in conjunction with local hotels.
• Art and other exhibitions.
• A space for FBC to use - the Ansdell paintings?

Who would run it?

This project will only work if local people want it . A commitee of workers who could help it get off the ground should form them selves into a charitable trust. The St Annes Regeneration Partnership should get involved. This could be the most positive step St Annes has taken in a long time, and that most likely to restore confidence in the town and community.

Funding

• Grants will be available from number of sources.
• The developer of the rest of the site could help with restoration of the remaining rooms.
• Rent from a commercial tenant.
• Room hire.
• Income from catering.
• Fund raising events.
• A "name" could be given to the centre if a major benefactor came forward.
• Voluntary workers do a lot, and count as "cash" in matching funding for lottery applications.

Meeting held on 11 February 2000 at St Thomas’s parish centre: A presentation was made by David Selby pointing out that Fylde BC has no Arts Policy and it is required to have one. 4 councillors were present, and representatives from many local dramatic and musical groups, the Film Society and the Library service. The response was very positive and there is clearly much feeling in the town that it should not lose another fine building, particularly one so associated with the high ideals of the town’s founders .

A glass link to the library is planned to enable access from there directly. Library users would have refreshment facilities, toilets, meeting rooms and internet access available to them.