Darwen 'tech' school apartments begin at last

3:00pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

Work in progress Work in progress

AN historic but derelict former school building is to be transformed into 43 apartments.

Work has just begun at the former Darwen Technical School on the corner of Knott Street and Union Street.

Nelson-based Barnfield Construction is carrying out the work on behalf of Novarise Properties Ltd after the project was put out to tender.

The work, which will cost about £1.4million, is expected to be completed just before Christmas.

Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Smith said it would be great to see the building brought back into use.

He said: “Hopefully the new owners will be committed to getting the work finished as it has been stop-start, stop-start over the years.

“When people start moving in there, it should boost the local economy with people shopping in the market and town centre so it is good news all round.”

Sudell councillor Roy Davies said he was delighted the work was going to be done.

He said: “It is absolutely brilliant news. This is exactly the sort of thing we want in the centre of Darwen.

“Let’s just hope it gets finished this time as there have been enough attempts at it. We have got to do something to get Darwen town centre back up to standard.

“Hopefully this will kick-start things and help bring some investment to the area.”

Founder of Darwen Days local history and heritage group Dave Owen said he couldn’t wait to see the renovated building.

He said: “That building is a big part of Darwen’s history and it has been sad to see it standing empty for so long.

“Hopefully the renovations will maintain its character while bringing an historic building back into use.”

The Victorian gothic building designed by Mr J Lane Fox opened in 1894 and the library, which was also based in the school building for a number of years, moved there in 1895.

Among the early pupils was James Hargreaves Morton, the artist killed in the First World War.

It was the Grammar School until 1939 and, in 1945, it reopened as the Secondary Technical School, obtaining college status in the 1950s. It became Darwen Moorland Lower School in July 1972 before it closed in 1995.

Comments (11)

11:35pm Thu 28 Feb 13

Major Tom says...

Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin.
Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin. Major Tom

12:15am Fri 1 Mar 13

tim otay71 says...

Major Tom wrote:
Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin.
You might be in Everton really as you can't spell Blackburn with Darwen!! Ha
[quote][p][bold]Major Tom[/bold] wrote: Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin.[/p][/quote]You might be in Everton really as you can't spell Blackburn with Darwen!! Ha tim otay71

12:38am Fri 1 Mar 13

fireonthemountain says...

Silly question .

Where are they going to park ?

Ooh I know !

Demolish the Police Station .
Might as well .
Silly question . Where are they going to park ? Ooh I know ! Demolish the Police Station . Might as well . fireonthemountain

9:12am Fri 1 Mar 13

Newradder says...

fireonthemountain wrote:
Silly question .

Where are they going to park ?

Ooh I know !

Demolish the Police Station .
Might as well .
Are you aware that schools have playgrounds/yards.
[quote][p][bold]fireonthemountain[/bold] wrote: Silly question . Where are they going to park ? Ooh I know ! Demolish the Police Station . Might as well .[/p][/quote]Are you aware that schools have playgrounds/yards. Newradder

9:20am Fri 1 Mar 13

old aggies killers says...

Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.
Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors. old aggies killers

11:46am Fri 1 Mar 13

Valleymen says...

Good to see work is finally progressing with the old school, Only problem is, are these apartments going to be for sale? if so the building will continue to stand empty once the work is done! How can anyone buy an apartment if they barely have enough money to survive?
And of course, no matter how good a job they make of it, if the building continues to be empty it will simply become again a target for vandals which will no doubt do their utmost to make the building an eyesore again.
Good to see work is finally progressing with the old school, Only problem is, are these apartments going to be for sale? if so the building will continue to stand empty once the work is done! How can anyone buy an apartment if they barely have enough money to survive? And of course, no matter how good a job they make of it, if the building continues to be empty it will simply become again a target for vandals which will no doubt do their utmost to make the building an eyesore again. Valleymen

2:13pm Fri 1 Mar 13

english rose 1 says...

old aggies killers wrote:
Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.
Which former Councillor delayed the project ???
[quote][p][bold]old aggies killers[/bold] wrote: Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.[/p][/quote]Which former Councillor delayed the project ??? english rose 1

4:55pm Fri 1 Mar 13

louderfasterlonger says...

old aggies killers wrote:
Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.
The last time they stopped work on it there were two For Darwen Sunnyhurst Councillors forming the ruling coalition I do believe. Perhaps it was down to the threat against one of their Personal Rental Property portfolios that it was stopped. Just another wild hypothesis to go with yours.
[quote][p][bold]old aggies killers[/bold] wrote: Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.[/p][/quote]The last time they stopped work on it there were two For Darwen Sunnyhurst Councillors forming the ruling coalition I do believe. Perhaps it was down to the threat against one of their Personal Rental Property portfolios that it was stopped. Just another wild hypothesis to go with yours. louderfasterlonger

8:36pm Fri 1 Mar 13

happycyclist says...

Valleymen wrote:
Good to see work is finally progressing with the old school, Only problem is, are these apartments going to be for sale? if so the building will continue to stand empty once the work is done! How can anyone buy an apartment if they barely have enough money to survive?
And of course, no matter how good a job they make of it, if the building continues to be empty it will simply become again a target for vandals which will no doubt do their utmost to make the building an eyesore again.
True. And price will determine whether they sell or not. There used to be a board up advertising them for sale at up to £180,000! Who the hell would pay that to live there?
[quote][p][bold]Valleymen[/bold] wrote: Good to see work is finally progressing with the old school, Only problem is, are these apartments going to be for sale? if so the building will continue to stand empty once the work is done! How can anyone buy an apartment if they barely have enough money to survive? And of course, no matter how good a job they make of it, if the building continues to be empty it will simply become again a target for vandals which will no doubt do their utmost to make the building an eyesore again.[/p][/quote]True. And price will determine whether they sell or not. There used to be a board up advertising them for sale at up to £180,000! Who the hell would pay that to live there? happycyclist

5:55pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Darwenbert says...

tim otay71 wrote:
Major Tom wrote:
Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin.
You might be in Everton really as you can't spell Blackburn with Darwen!! Ha
don't think the production team from countdown will be looking around Egerton for future contestants LOL
[quote][p][bold]tim otay71[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Major Tom[/bold] wrote: Who on earth wants to live in Blackbun with Darwin? I'm so happy I chose Egerton instead of Blackbun with Darwin.[/p][/quote]You might be in Everton really as you can't spell Blackburn with Darwen!! Ha[/p][/quote]don't think the production team from countdown will be looking around Egerton for future contestants LOL Darwenbert

12:05pm Wed 6 Mar 13

lady vera fart teller says...

english rose 1 wrote:
old aggies killers wrote: Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.
Which former Councillor delayed the project ???
English Rose - come off it, you know **** well who !!! Stop sticking up for the Sunnyhurst Sandanistas !!!
[quote][p][bold]english rose 1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]old aggies killers[/bold] wrote: Councillor Smith no doubt conveniently forgets and neglects to say that another, former Labour councillor was previously involved in this project when it was delayed, adding to the "stop-start" aspect. No doubt the whole project would have fared better and finished sooner without any involvement from Labour councillors.[/p][/quote]Which former Councillor delayed the project ???[/p][/quote]English Rose - come off it, you know **** well who !!! Stop sticking up for the Sunnyhurst Sandanistas !!! lady vera fart teller

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