Derby School - Return To St. Helen's House (1945-1966)

Return To St. Helen's House (1945-1966)

St. Helen’s House and the adjoining building known as ‘B’ Block, also as the Pearson Building, in King Street had been used by Ordnance Survey staff during World War II. In 1945 this organisation vacated the buildings including Big School (the large school assembly hall) and allowed Derby School to return to its home after five years at the beginning of September at the commencement of the Autumn term of 1945. Derby School began its final period here of just over two decades before moving finally on to the Littleover site in 1966.

In 1944, the school (already owned by Derby Corporation as a result of its 1554 Charter) accepted financial support from Derbyshire County Council and became one of four single-sex grammar schools in Derby within the tripartite system established by the Education Act 1944. The other three were Bemrose School (boys), Homelands (girls) and Parkfield Cedars Grammar School (girls), see Judith Hann.

The St Helen's House complex consisted of the house itself (called 'A'-block), which contained classrooms and offices; an attached annexe known as the Pearson Building (called 'B'-block), which held most of the classrooms on the ground and second floor plus on the first floor 'Big School', the school's large assembly hall complete with stage; there was then a free standing school chapel; plus a separate building in red brick which housed the Chemistry Department approached through the cloisters between the rear of 'B' Block and the rear of the chapel. Here was also housed the armoury for the JTC/CCF containing scores of weapons - dozens of Lee Enfield .303 rifles, a couple of Bren guns and revolvers. No live ammunition was stored. There were then several single-storey prefabricated wooden buildings which contained the woodworking classroom, gymnasium, changing rooms and shower facilities, and another smaller annexe close by which housed the refectory and some classrooms approached from Edward Street.