200-year-old former school will house new art studios

Rose Harland • Published 21 Feb 2008 09:00 0 Comments

A HISTORIC disused school in Katesgrove is to be converted into flats and artists' studios.

The ground floor of the Old British School in Southampton Street - which is nearly 200 years old - will be used by charitable company Jelly Leg'd Chicken to provide affordable workspace for artists.

Director Suzanne Stallard said: "In Reading there is not much space for artists to make their work. We've always been on the lookout for studios.

"It's quite amazing. We've been going for 15 years and, now we're getting a lease for 15 years, so it's nice to have some stability."

Miss Stallard added: "Jelly does try to keep Reading at its heart. We try to use Reading artists and work with Reading companies."

Jelly Leg'd Chicken - which will be formally shortening its name to Jelly - will retain its gallery space in the Town Hall, and is also planning to lease new work and exhibition space in the Chatham Street development, due to open later this year.

The six to eight studios in the British School will mainly be used for painting and sculpture, and artists will participate in community projects as well as holding open days.

Planning permission has also been granted for two one-bedroom and nine two-bedroom flats, with car and bike parking. Access will be from Mount Pleasant by the MAPP centre, but not from Southampton Street.

The Grade II listed building was used as a school from roughly 1810 until 1903, and is believed to be one of the last remaining Lancastrian schools, named after their founder, Joseph Lancaster.

Jim Bailey, of developers DLP Planning, said: "Obviously the building itself has a long history of community use. Up until the war years, in the 1930s, it was a school, then during the war it was used for cooking school dinners.

‘‘They cooked the dinners there and then sent them out around Reading.

"Up until three years ago, part of the building was used by the Apollo youth group, but the main part has been unused for 30 years.

‘‘To renovate it will be very expensive, but the residential area will generate the funding to provide the community area."

It is thought the studio space will be in use by the beginning of next year.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 21 Feb 08

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