1960s art classrooms, The Essex Wing, The Walden School (EHER 81120)

The Essex Wing is a brick-built complex of art classrooms to the West of the main school building at The Walden School (EHER 81116). It was built in 1961 and later renamed to 'The Essex Wing' in recognition of a large grant from the Essex Education Committee. The building has been subject to minimal alteration since its construction.

June 2023. Heritage assessment. A major review in 1957 concluded that The Walden School (EHER 81116) required ‘more accommodation for (i) feeding, (ii) teaching and (iii) sleeping’, resulting in plans for a new classroom block with an art room and staff common room on the South side of the main school building, with Kenneth Bayes appointed architect. The buildings were completed in 1961 and named Art Block, later renamed The Essex Wing in recognition of a large grant from the Essex Education Committee. Kenneth Bayes’ Art Block lies to the West of the main school building, accessed internally from the medical bay wing and together with it forming a small three-sided, elevated courtyard with garden. Three large classrooms occupy the ground floor, two of which provided for mathematics and home economics. Whilst the modest red brick exterior and L-plan sit comfortably with the earlier buildings, internally Bayes’ design makes a conscious break with the Victorian character of the earlier components. On the upper floor, a series of rooflights line either side of each room again bringing ample light into the art rooms. The quality of the art rooms on the upper level stands out over the classrooms at ground floor level due to expansive use of natural light to create a very suitable suite of art spaces. The building has been subject to minimal alteration since its construction. <1>