The Auction Rooms Formerly The British School, 1841

In 1836, members of the non-conformist Baptist Church in Milton Road decided that “provision should be made for the daily instruction of children of dissenting parents whose poverty prevented them supplying a means for their education”. Consequently, the British School was built by subscription opposite the church and opened in 1841 for around 200 children.

The building, on what was then the main route to Twyford, is of red brick, laid in “rat-trap” bond with cast iron windows and timber sliding sashes. It still retains its classic features both externally and internally (where beams and windows still remain in the main and ante rooms).

The school was run on the Lancaster model and under the principles of the British and Foreign School Society. Joseph Lancaster's plan was the “monitoring” system whereby older pupils would instruct the younger ones, with the master standing at one end on a raised dias, facing rows of benches.. In side passageways, small groups would gather around lesson boards hung on the walls. Hence, ventilation, daylight and quietness were of paramount importance, reflected in the open truss roof and pivoting windows.

Following the advent of state education, the trustees converted the rooms for use as a Sunday School and this remained as such until the building was sold in the 1990s.

The building is grade II listed and is used by Martin and Pole as an auction and storage room, with the venue appearing on television programmes.

The Wokingham Walk