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Source: Skegness Herald 6th April 1883

Demolition of an Old Building

One of the oldest buildings in this town known as “Skegness House” and situate in Drummond Road, was sold by auction by Mr GH Cash on Monday afternoon last, and in the course of the next few days will be razed to the ground.
It may not generally be known that Alfred Tennyson, the present poet-laureate, once stayed in this house.
This was some years ago and long before Skegness occupied the prominent position it now does as one of the favourite watering-places of our coast.

News story review:

An excellently written article and very informative. Valuable information for Skegness historical research.

The photographs give us a “final look” at the underground toilets which were to be demolished.

Source: Skegness Standard 15th June 2001

News story: John Cowpe

Photos: Paul Gooch

News story review:

An excellently written article and very informative. Valuable information for Skegness historical research, telling us of the bid by the Skegness Civic Society and Councillor Harold Fainlight to save the old pumping station building on Richmond Drive Skegness.

Fainlight suggested turning the building into a community centre for the people of Skegness.

Source: Skegness Standard 6th July 2001
Photos: Paul Gooch

“Pumping station into hall?Could Skegness have its own community hall at the old pumping station at the Richmond Drive depot?
That is the question being posed by the Skegness [Civic] Society who were given a tour of the building on Thursday.
The society has been worried that the building, which it considers to be one of the most interesting old industrial buildings in the town, might be demolished to make way for the retail development proposed for Richmond Drive.
Now the society is lobbying for it to be kept for use by the community.
In a letter to East Lindsey District Council chief executive Mr Paul Haigh, society chairman Mr Harold Fainlight says: “After the visit all present agreed that the old pumping station had great potential for development and, with money spent on it, could not only be preserved but also used in all sorts of ways by Skegness citizens.
“It seems ironic that whilst Skegness has many facilities and venues for use by tourists, it lacks what every decent village has, almost as a matter of right - that is a community centre that can be used by its citizens for meetings and all of the other purposes so essential to maintain social identity and cohesion in a community,” says Mr Fainlight.
He says every effort should be made to investigate whether the pumping station can be used for this purpose.
But he adds that although the Skegness Civic Society has bright ideas it lacks clout and money.
It is therefore passing on its ideas to the town council and the local media “in the hope that enthusiasm is aroused and that support also comes from the citizens of Skegness”.”

Source: Skegness Standard 23rd January 1998
Photo: not credited

An account of the Butilins Gaiety Theatre being demolished and a photograph of the theatre in int hey-day.

It’s curtains for the famous Gaiety Theatre at Butlin’s Funcoast World, Skegness, as the demolition team moved in this week to dismantle the building - once the centre of showbiz glamour.
The theatre’s stage played host to a wealth of talent and a number of top names stars in its glory years.
Now it is to make way for a new development as part of Funcoast World’s £40 million facelift.

Source: Skegness Standard 27th February 1998
Photo: Lincolnshire Standard Group

This news article by the Skegness Standard provides us with valuable information regarding the Skegness Infants School.

It tells us that the old school was built in 1908 and an extension built in 1925. The school was demolished in 1998 and a photo of the demolition was published in the article.

The story revealed that some historical artefacts from the old building were to be preserved, namely the stones depicting the opening and the extension of the school, and old beams which, the article informs us, were to be used to build a pergola. We learn that the site of the old school was to be turned into landscaped gardens. We now know that this came to fruition and the new building was positioned further back. Excitingly, the old school bell was to be preserved an hung on one of the exterior walls of the new building.

End of an era…

It was the end of an era for Skegness’s oldest school building when demolition work began during half-term on the former premises of Skegness County Infant’s School.
Now that the pupils are happily housed in brand new classrooms, the old school is to make way for landscaped gardens.
A number of historical artefacts rescued from the building are to feature in the gardens including two stone signs, dated 1908 and 1925, which mark the date of the school and the addition of an extension.
Some of the building’s old beams will be used to make a pergola, while the old bell, which is to be used in the school’s new logo, will take pride of place on the new school wall.

We set off on the trail of the old Infant school relics.

We were greeted at the school by Nancy, a friendly member of staff. “Were looking for some old relics”, we announced. “There are plenty around here!”, Nancy joked.

Nancy led me to some old stones which were lying in an outdoor area but within the security of the school.

She then led me outside into the playground to point out the stone, set in the playground wall, which marks the 1925 extension of the school.

Nancy informed me that the old school bell was actually in storage, in need of restoration, but the bell housing had been mounted on one of the building’s apexes.

I inquired about the pergola which was reported to be constructed from beams taken from the old school. Nancy said that a pergola had been erected in the landscaped garden area, but it hadn’t been made from the old school beams.

I thanked Nancy for taking the time and trouble to guide me around the school.

Update 22nd October 2007.

We met Nancy by chance whilst shopping in Skegness. She told us that since our visit, she’d discovered more relics in the Junior part of the school and invited us back to take pictures of them. We’ll be returning to the school shortly to see what more we can find so don’t forget to check back.