About Us
History of the Old Girls’ School
The school opened in 1876 at a cost of £2,000. It had a capacity for 268 pupils; a large number for the size of the village at that time. It continued to serve the village as a first-class educational establishment, educating many of the older residents of the village, until the new Hungate school opened and the old school closed in 1978.
The land for the Girls’ School on Kirkgate in Sherburn in Elmet came from the estate of Lady Ashtown, formerly Elizabeth Gascoigne, and her husband Frederick Mason Trench. The Gascoignes have had a long presence in local history and were noted for their charitable works and commitment to education. In 1874, a School Board of five members was formed for the school district of Sherburn in Elmet, with the aspiration of providing a school for girls and infants.
Through the generosity of the Gascoigne sisters, Mary Isabella and Elizabeth, a plot of land was provided for building the Girls school in Sherburn. The project was taken on by the Sherburn School Board and tenders for the building of the school on that land were issued by Wm Ellis, Architect, on Sat 18 September 1875.
The building was later used by the successor local education authority, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), as offices for social services. NYCC vacated the premises at the end of 2013 and the property was put on the open market with the risk it would be demolished for housing.
The Friends of the Old Girls’ School was formed by a group of concerned residents to prevent this beautiful historic building from progressively getting in a worse state of repair due to being unused and to explore the possibility of bringing it into community use.
North Yorkshire County Council granted a lease to Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust from April 2017. The building needed considerable work to bring it back into use.
Our story
In early 2013, a number of local residents came together and decided to create a group called ‘Friends of the Old Girls’ School’ (FOGS) to try and preserve and protect the facility for the community. Many had been educated at the school themselves.
Local residents then formed Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (re-named Sherburn and Villages Community Trust in 2023), which was able to secure funding and support to transform the building for community use.
The Old Girls’ School was completely renovated and opened for use as a community centre on 1st September 2018. It now offers a range of classes, events and activities for local people of all ages plus room and hall hire for parties and weddings.
School opened
Closed as a school
North Yorkshire County Council used the building for offices for educational services
Friends of the Old Girls’ School (FOGS) formed to preserve the building for community use
North Yorkshire County Council vacated the premises and the property was put on the open market
Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (SIECT) formed by local residents to help secure the building working with FOGS
Lease for the Old Girls’ School secured by Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (a registered charity)
Friends of the Old Girls’ School (FOGS) draw up proposals and fund raising to convert the building into a community centre
Awarded National Lottery funding for the refurbishment of the building. Additional funding from Selby District Council
Contractors for the main renovation work appointed
Renovation work substantially complete
Volunteers complete considerable amount of painting and decorating
Grand opening of The Old Girls’ School as a community centre
The transformation
Browse some of the photos below showing the transformation of the building.
2013
Friends of the Old Girls’ School (FOGS) formed when it became clear the building was likely to be sold. The purpose of FOGS was to preserve the building for community use.
Late 2013
North Yorkshire County Council vacated the premises at the end of 2013 and the property was put on the open market with the potential it would be demolished for housing.
2016
Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (SIECT) was formed as a registered charity by local residents in 2016 to facilitate, together with FOGS, the conversion of the former Old Girls’ School into a Community Centre and separately to secure Sherburn library for community use.
Early 2017
Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (SIECT) negotiated leases for both the library and Old Girls’ School by April 2017.
Spring / Summer 2017
The Friends of the Old Girls’ School moved forward with drawing up proposals and fund raising to convert the building into a community centre and tearooms. SIECT made a number of applications for grant funding using its strength as a community-wide group to support its case and was rewarded with early success with a grant from Tesco Bags of Help to develop the garden area at the front of the building. Meanwhile a former outbuilding at the rear was leased out and developed as a children’s nursery, thereby bringing in some much needed income.
Autumn 2017
In the Autumn of 2017 we were awarded National Lottery funding for the refurbishment of the building and also to enable us to run the community centre for 3 years with paid staff so that we will not have to rely entirely on volunteers. Additional funding was also obtained from Selby District Council.
March 2018
Contractors for the main renovation work were appointed for start to be made in March 2018 and the work was substantially completed at the end of June. A considerable amount of painting and decorating was done by volunteers over the summer.
September 2018
On the 1st September 2018 the Old Girls’ School Community Centre and Tearoom became fully operational. A new Management of the Old Girls’ School Group (MOGS) provides Operational Management. The Friends of the Old Girls’ School Group (FOGS) continues to provide support and fundraising activities.
Today
A Community Centre Manager oversees day-to-day running of the centre, with a management group (known as MOGS) giving operational support. FOGS lead on events and fundraising activities. Legal accountability rests with Sherburn and Villages Community Trust.