The Lost Houses of Derbyshire
by Maxwell Craven
becoming vacant again early in 1919 . The headmaster and managers of the over-crowded neighbouring Spondon ( Junior ) school had the vision to realise that here lay an opportunity to expand without the expense of building , and in 1920 the LEA accepted that the idea was sound , and two years later , a new County School was founded at Spondon House ( later absorbing the nearby early 19th century villa called The Croft , latterly home of the Lillys ) which flourished mightily . It became a County Secondary School in 1945 , but closed in 1964 , to move into new premises at West Park , Spondon , on the site of Field House , then recently – and sadly – demolished for the purpose .
If Field House , the long empty seat of the Devas , Arkwright and Osborne families , had to be demolished to enable Spondon House School to move , it was a straw in the wind , for Spondon
House itself , the freehold of which the County had acquired from the Drury-Lowes in the 1920s , was also rapidly demolished ; a serious loss , for it was in good repair , and would have easily converted into three or four excellent dwellings . Yet it was heedlessly cleared away in 1965 and the site sold . All that remains is the substantial brick wall surrounding the still wooded site ( although altered to accommodate changes to the street pattern in places ) and the gates .
Cricket , c . 1960 with the SW angle of the house behind . [ The late Mrs . Tom Fraser ]
Revd . Edward Priestland , shortly after taking the school over . [ Spondon Historical Society ]
Spondon House , summer term study in the garden with the NE wing and a glimpse of the former stable block behind , c . 1960 . [ The late Mrs . Tom Fraser ]
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