Icknield Street School is in urgent need of repairs. Water leaks from the slate roofs and gutters are now causing damage to both the roof and walls.
Photo Credit: Stephen Hartland for The Victorian Society.
Grade II*-listed, 1883, J.H. Chamberlain
Icknield Street School was designed and built in 1883 by J.H. Chamberlain, widely regarded as one of the earliest practical exponents of John Ruskin’s architectural theory. The main building is an irregular mass of the high gables and pitched roofs typical of his schools, which improved hygiene standards by facilitating the free circulation of fresh air. A prominent feature is the slated spire rising in three stages, separated by wooden louvres, and terminating in elaborate ironwork. The accompanying headmaster’s house is also of red brick, and incorporates a terracotta frieze depicting wildflowers. Both buildings are now owned by the council and risk irreparable damage if a solution to their dilapidation is not found. A small part of the ground floor is in use as a Hindu temple, but its upper storeys are vacant and water ingress from the roofs and gutters has caused considerable damage.
Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: ‘Icknield Street School is a beautiful building that is at risk of being lost if essential repairs are not carried out. The rain damage will only continue to get worse. This must be addressed as a priority. The school is in a convenient location and the potential for repurposing is clear, as it is currently partly occupied. The council must act soon to both deal with the damage to the fabric of the building it is the custodian of and to find additional occupiers to make the most of its wonderful Victorian space.’
Status Update / March 2026
As of 2026, the building remains in a sorry state and there are signs that its fabric has deteriorated further. A report in the local media in 2023 suggests that the council are working with Historic England to develop a repair and business investment plan.