1930s assembly hall, The Walden School (EHER 81123)

An assembly hall built in 1937 at The Walden School (EHER 81116) and designed by the architectural firm Johns& Slater. The building is brick-built with a tiled pitched roof. There is a stage at the South end of the hall.

June 2023. Heritage assessment. The assembly hall comprises a rectangular N-S aligned red brick single storey building with a tiled pitched roof with solid brick external walls and a concrete ground bearing slab. The architects were Johns & Slater and the building was completed in 1937. At the same time the existing lecture hall at the centre of the school was remodelled as a library. The stage is located at the South end of the hall. Main access is from the East side of the hall through an anteroom with toilets either side. A clock presented by the Old Scholars (former students) on Whitsun, 1948, hangs over the internal doorway of the anteroom. On the West side of the hall, full height windows and doors provide access onto an outdoor terrace facing onto Croydon House (EHER 81119). There is also access for performers and staff during performances either side of the stage. The windows are characteristically mid-twentieth century with lightweight metal frames and openers. The music suite, added in the 1980s, abuts the hall to the North (see EHER 81124). <1>