Geograph - photograph every grid square

The eastern end of the former Spitalgate Church of England Primary School is seen here from Commercial Street. The earliest record of a Church of England school in "Spittlegate" (sic) dates the school's foundation to the early 1840s. However, the school, originally known as Spittlegate National School, was situated on various sites in the Launder Terrace neighbourhood. In October 1940 part of the school was damaged and pupils were moved to various locations throughout the town. Later on the school buildings were occupied by army units during WWII, although in 1948 the girls' and the infants' schools returned to the Launder Terrace premises. The boys' school however, remained at Stonebridge House where it had been relocated during the war. In 1956 the school became a co-educational school and the first boys appeared on the admissions register here on 10 April 1956. The Launder Terrace building was closed in March 1977 and the school was moved to new premises in Trent Road, Earlesfield. These premises now house small retail units and the site is referred to as The Old School Retail Market. The tree seen here is within the grounds of the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist. The town’s railway station lies 3-4 minutes walk ahead - along Launder Terrace - i.e. to the left of the former school.