When the first foundation stone was laid at the main Priory site in 1910 it had been branded ‘undesirable’ by Henry III.
So as staff and students prepare to celebrate its centenary 100 years on the building has defied all the odds by still standing tall.
The site, now home to Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, was bestowed upon friars in 1254 by King Henry who described the land as ‘marshy waste, liable to flooding’ as the Austinian Priory was built.
Flashback to the 1960’s.
In 1911 it became the first grammar school to be built in the town, for £14,444, after local architects Shaylor and Swann beat off 11 others to win the building contract from Salop County Council.
Arthur Rudolph Florian was appointed first headmaster of the Priory School for Boys which was a mixed-sex school despite its name and pupils were taught in separate sides of the building.
Boys were taught subjects like Greek, Latin and manual work while girls were taught preparation for home, cooking and needlework.
Starting with 88 students, the establishment became an all-boys school in 1939 which it stayed as until the sixth form was phased in during 1981.
The former listed building has now formed an integral part of the sixth form college, despite its so-called poor location, with its intricate Georgian-style architecture remaining largely untouched over the years.
With massive changes to pupil numbers and the curriculum, the changes to the hall have stayed relatively minimal with a floor suspended above the school hall and two war memorials rededicated in 2001.
College principal Martin Ward said: “Apparently Henry III gave it to the Augustinian friars because it was such a swampy site down by the river and it wasn’t considered very desirable.
“So it’s amazing how over the years as the town centre has developed it’s now become a prime location. Students like the mix and character of the buildings and while there have been many changes at the college the actual building has stayed largely the same.”
Teacher Hayden Jenkinson, who worked at the school for boys when he joined in 1976, said: “Building regulations now say that constructions by the river have to be built above the 1947 flood mark so the architects must have had the foresight to build it on high enough ground for it not to flood. It would have caused huge problems if they hadn’t thought of this.
“We are now well and truly embedded in the town centre and its location has really become one of its big selling points. With it being 100 years old the whole place has this atmosphere which I think a lot of modern buildings would struggle to recreate.”
Mr Jenkinson added the Sixth Form’s attachment to the main site was one of the reasons why the controversial co-location bid collapsed in 2008, after the college pulled out of the deal.
To mark the centenary former staff and students are being invited along to an exhibition on Wednesday, July 14, between 3pm and 6.30pm where people will be able to view archive material on the building. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased by contacting the college on 01743 266803 or emailing boxoffice@ssfc.ac.uk.
By David Seadon
