The Stoke Damerel Secondary School for Girls was founded in August 1926, when the Plymouth Local Education Authority transferred the girls from Regent Street Central School to join the girls at Keppel Place Central School, Stoke. The boys combined to create Sutton Secondary School for Boys in the Regent Street building.
When the School opened in the September there were 349 pupils on the register but within the first twelve months this fell to 329, largely because of the distance of the School from Plymouth. The Headmistress was Miss E M Bence, BA (London), and she was supported by 19 full-time staff and two visiting teachers.
There was an official inspection by the Board of Education between February 7th and 10th 1928. Their report recorded that there were three classes in the first form; two in the second; three each in the third and fourth; two in the fifth; and there were nine sixth form pupils of an average age of 16 years 5 months.
It was elevated to the status of a High School in 1935.
Update: As this seems to be the most visited set of photos of late I would love to hear from someone who could give me a full history of the site. When it opened, closed etc. Thanks for all the comments so far – it’s certainly an interesting site! – 07/10/09
I went there for a brief period in 1967-8. Miss Dixon was head, Mrs Grose taught maths I think. My form teacher was Miss Causley – art. I remember the up and down staircases and the playground on the roof. I don’t remember the third staircase. But liked the school and wish I could have stayed.
I was there, with a break, between 1970 and 1975. Miss Dixon was Head and I remember Mr Liddicote (Music), Mr Montague (Biology), Mr Screech (English), Miss Squires. i was in Caville House. I remember that there were 3 sets of stairs, one ‘up’, one ‘down’ and one for staff and prefects. This meant there was a one way system for moving around between lessons.
Dreadful place, awful facilities, poor teaching, pull it down! Where you went in the 70′s if you weren’t bright enough to go to Plymouth or Devonport High!
I was at Stoke Damerel in the late 1950s/early 1960s. I remember Miss Peatfield as Head Mistress. I also recall several mistresses – Miss Labrie who came over from New England for a year and taught English. I well remember Miss Fearnside, Miss Smith, Miss Greening, Miss Latham (who dragged my hair back with a piece of string during needlework once) and Mrs. Grose. I vividly recall the roof where we played netball and where the lavatories were and also, pinning my beret on the back of my head and getting caught by the prefects at the doors, on leaving school in the afternoon. I also have vivid memories of blue aertex blouses and navy skirts for games and having to walk to the playing fields. I find it extremely sad to see the school in such a state of disrepair.
That looks awesome, full of history and narrative, I’m going
I attended in the mid sixties for a couple of years before moving to Torquay. I remember Mrs Grose and Mr Heighway as form teachers. If I remember correctly Mr Heighway was also a newsreader on the local evening news. Miss Dixon was Head. Mrs Jago and Miss Reeve ( I think) for French and an amazing history teacher who often had me laughing uncontrollably in class, I think her name was Miss Chapman. Some classmates I remember; Julie Hrydziuszko, Susan Jones, Lynette Jones, Claire Maxwell- Jones, Paulette Martin, We had to catch a bus to Central Park for tennis lessons and walk down to Brickfields for hockey. I also remember Christine Ruse and Elizabeth Charley among others. A great shame that the building has fallen into ruin.
I took my Australia husband to look at the old school 9 1963-1970). He couldn’t believe that we had played netball on the roof!
I remember Percy Grant Arnold finally retiring as the music teacher and his wonderful carol services in St Andrews.
I appeared in The Merchant of Venice school play with Mrs Warne as the producer.
I was there from 78-85 and have some lovely memories. These photos are incredibly poignant and beautiful but it’s so sad to see it abandoned. It’s still an incredibly imposing and unique building. I remember the never ending stairs, the massive corridors, the library and the loos outside – below street level! I was just randomly thinking about it so googled and found this – thanks so much for posting the photos!
I attended SDHS from 1957 to 1963. Gosh, my legacy from SDHS was a good pair of legs (all those stairs) and an undying sense of ‘The Utmost for the Highest’.
At that time the school was virtually unique in that monitors and prefects were elected. The whole school were able to vote on changes/additions to the school rules and changes to the uniform. The heat was on, while I was there, to abandon the beret. No such luck!
It was a small school where you were never just ‘one of the crowd’, where girls of all faiths were catered for and where I met the most fantastic teacher (and personality) that I have ever known – Miss Winifred Fearnside. A force to be reckoned with, a former Lord Mayor of Saltash and one of the first lady motorcyclists that Plymouth had ever seen! She would read Georges Simenon to us using instantaneous translation. Super!
The building is now virtually derelict. It is probably now beyond recovery and is a danger to those who live close to it. It is a criminal waste of resources, but the building probably contravenes every health and safety rule relating to public access in the book!.
What ever became of the library books? – SDHS had a finer collection of foreign language books than Plymouth Public Library.
I longed to see my name on the Roll of Honour in the Assembly Hall. Won my degree in 2000 from the Open University – too late, alas!
‘The Utmost for the Highest’ has always stood me in good stead.
I was a pupil 1979-1984 ish. What fond memories of this school! So sad to see it so run down.
(Some people may remember me as the girl that cracked her head open by running into a lampost whilst we were going down to the sports field to play hockey)
I also remember slapping on the coconut oil whilst sunbathing on the roof and posing for the panoramic photos. The boys school joined us in my last year but it was very exciting. There are still smells that remind me of the school. My favourite smell was the book store cupboard near Miss Rashbrooks classroom. I remember the pride of moving into the portakabin as a sixth former and the prestige that came with that.
I have still got the cassettes of our carol service in St Andrews.
I have very fond memories of my old school. I even remember “Lift up you heart” our school song. Miss “Doris” Dixon was a force to be reckoned with and I am a Headteacher myself but will never command that kind of respect! I remember Mr Liddicoate and still sing the Towers of Ten Tarling. Other fond memories :Mr Rowe’s lefthanded cream horns (you had to be there), Mr Howard’s clarinet at Christmas, Mrs L Smith who taught maths , Mrs M Smith who taught Latin and Miss Bullock’s amazing hair. At this time of year I remember the carol concert in St Andrew’s church and the procession “Once in Royal David’s City”. We were then trusted to get back to school!!!!
Hello Richard Johnson! Twenty something years later! Don’t remeber the girls being the only ones wanting to throw you off the roof! Just joking!
So sad.Always wanted to return to the school.Too late now.Despite poor PE facilities I still managed to play Netball for Plymouth for 3 years whilst at school.1954– 1961 attendance.
My sister Jill, and myself were pupils during the 50′s and early 60′s. I can still remember the lay-out of the school, and most of the teachers – plus the numerous school friends I met from 1B to the Upper Sixth. Playground on the roof, outdoor toilets etc, just part of the school, that was acceptable then – but I did receive a good education, discipline, and integrity.
My sister Jill, and myself were pupils during the 50′s and early 60′s. I can still remember the lay-out of the classrooms and most of the teachers, plus the numerous friends met from year 1B to the Upper Sixth. I never thought about the lack of facilities, – looking back now I fondly remember a school that gave me a good education, discipline, and, hopefuly, integrity
1973-1978ish.. I remember Miss Dixon, (ancient history) Miss Squire, (Geography and RK) Mr Liddicoat,(music) Miss Slack (French), Mr Montague. The Science teacher was also ran the chess club, but cant remember his name.
People in my era..
Anne Ware, Vanessa Searle, Jennifer Quayle, Karen Mccuey (Sp. sorry), Janice, Susan Tolcher. We all went to the YMCA each friday for thier teen dances.
The school was basement, Ground, first, second and thrid floor to the room.
We ate in the cafe in the basement.
The Gym/Assembly was on the second floor. Library and staff room was at the end of the building on that floor. There was also a staff room on the ground floor and an office by the stairs and cloakroom opposite it.
The home room for cooking was on the third floor, with the science labs.
Staircases at each end of the building. The annex had a long corridor, two rooms at the end, the bathrooms were outside of the basement. and on the roof.
There was a third staircase for just staff, Miss Dixon’s room was on the second floor of it.
Playground on the roof. Does anyone remember getting those long panoramic pictures done each year up there of the entire school ensemble?
My email is: Kaibluecreations/at/gmail.com if you’d like to keep in touch. Thanks for sharing these fab photos.
I was one of the last intake too. These pictures actually brought a tear to my eye to see the building in such a state…….Mrs Green was Head Teacher when we first joined the school and Miss Squire took over when she left and Suttn High School for boys joined us.
I remember the toilets on the roof and the back yard. I remember hot sunny days sun bathing on the roof with our socks rolled down and lots of coconut oil! They were good times and great fun.
I may not have worked very hard at school but we did have a laugh and I must admit catching up with old school friends recently has been great
I joined Stoke Damerel High School for Girls in 1981 and we were the last intake of pupils. In 1984 Sutton High School for Boys joined us in this building and in 1986 we pretty much turned off the lights and closed the door behind us for good.
It’s a real shame to see the building in this state – I only hope that it will once again be restored to its former glory. Our dining room was in the basement, we played netball on the roof and sunbathed up there in our lunch time and we had outdoor toilets in the courtyard. It all sounds very Victorian but I have very fond memories of the School, the teachers and school friends – it was a great place to be and to be educated.
The Class of 1981 are holding a reunion in September 2011 – date, time and venue to be confirmed. Anyone who joined SDHS or SHS in 1981 and is interested in attending can contact me directly or through the Groups Facebook Page.
I know that Jane Austen house came into existence between 1957 and 1964 but I don’t know about the other houses.
Thank you for the info, forgot to mention that she was there in the 30′s, do you think they would have been the same?
The houses were:
Turquoise – Jane Austin
Blue – Edith Cavell
Red – Elizabeth Fry
Yellow – Agnes Weston
White – Marie Curie
Hope someone can help. My Mother is an ex Stoke Damerel pupil and is trying to remember the names of the schools houses?
I attended between 74 and 79.Often wondered what happened to the school.I have chanced upon this website looking for the schools awarding bodies for O levels back then.Grateful if anyone can remember.
I also remember some teachers.Playing netball on the roof and walking to Central Park for other physical activities, hockey at Brickfields where much to my embarrasment,the local dockyard workers would watch and wolf whistle as we played in our long thick socks and short pleated skirts……….ooh.
I was bullied a little back then as I was so painfully shy and didnt say too much, but I do remember a couple of really good friends who kept me going, thanks Susan and Tina….I wonder how you are??
I attended the school between
1957-1964.
I too was very disappointed to see how SDHS had been allowed to fall into disrepair. I, like many other girls from Plymouth, have very fond memories of my time spent at Stoke Damerel and am still proud of ‘my school ‘ even after all these years.
It is therefore very disappointing to discover that the Council appears to have lost any sense of Plymothian history. Would I be right in supposing that many of the local councillors were not in fact born and bred in Plymouth and are therefore not aware of the history of such buildings and the emotions they can generate?
It would be sad, but the demolition of the building may well be preferable to seeing it languishing in such a state. I feel that it is insulting to the Old Girls and staff to whom Stoke Damerel was a special place and which holds happy memories for many.
I attended SDHS from 1971-1978 – they were incredibly happy days!
I felt so sad to see the school in it’s present state; it’s such a shame and such a waste. All the staff really wanted the best for us and without it I doubt I would have got where I am today. I could reel off the names of most of the staff – mainly female – now. I lived on the opposite side of Plymouth but it was never a chore to go there. As a small school it had a close community feel to it and although it was an all girl school there was very little bitchiness, etc.
When we needed boys for drama productions we used to team up with Devonport High School for boys – did that send a wave of excitement through the school when they came for rehearsals; we also went there every year for our spoken english competitions – hours were spent in front of those cold toilet mirrors putting on make-up before we left to walk down there. In fact we walked everywhere because our sport facilities were so bad – down to Devonport field for hockey, Mount Wise swimming pool (horrible!) for swimming gala and into town for the Carol Service practice. And that playgound on the roof! We survived – as we did those hard stone up and down staircases- now- a- days health and safety wouldn’t allow it!
I wore my uniform with pride- didn’t particularly like the beret though; used to be terrified of getting told off by sixth formers if they caught us eating at the bus stop in uniform. HAPPY DAYS
As you can tell could go on for ages!
Will certainly try to get to the reunion.
I attended SDHS from 1972 – 1975 – left to move to s.Wales.
Head Teacher was Miss Dixon, also remember Mr.Montague, Mr Liddicote, Mrs Bullock to name but a few.
I loved wearing my red and Navy uniform and Blazer with the brading.
Also took part in school production of Trial by Jury. I remember the Flat roof on top and going downstairs to assembly every morning. Sad to see the building in such a state.
Yes the school is looking yet more worse for wear. Another arson attack on it in recent months. I believe vodafone have removed there comms gear from the roof due to the building being insecure. The council have issued compulsary works orders against the owner too. Thanks to all for all the comments, never would have imagined this site would stir so up so many memories! Thanks all.
Richard – can’t believe you weren’t allowed on the roof – we used to spend every lunchtime up there in the summer and even played Netball – when you think of it, one of those balls falling off the roof could have done a passing pedestrian some real damage! Mind you, this was in the 1970s, when things were very different!
Chase – looked at additional photos you took recently – fascinating but really sad
Ah, Mr Williams. Hello there. Actually I remember a few girls who wanted to throw me off the roof, but we weren’t allowed up there.
What a waste for a great school and a great building. Joined the girls at Stoke Damerell when we moved over from Sutton High, Regent Street in 1985. Spent 2 years at SDHS and many happy memories.
I recently visited here (November 2009) photos can be found here
It was great to see the photographs in the Evening Heralds dated April 10th& Sept:12th 2009 they brought back so many memories, seeing the picture of the teachers & remembering them all. I was there in the 1950′s when Miss Peatfield & Dr Stimpson were head teachers, I did enjoy my time at Stoke Dameral so much.So sad to see the state of the school now.have a great re-union.
I was there from 1952, with Miss Peatfield as the Head. I have lots of happy memories of SDHS. The pictures are so sad. Seeing the piano just thrown aside, Mr Arnold would have cried, he made each year into a choir for speachday, and each year had its favourite signature tune. Ours was The Dam Busters.
I live in SA so cant join the reunion, but to those that attend Enjoy.
I was at SDHS from 1952 when Miss Peatefield was head and I remember when Miss Squire started her career as a geography teacher. What ever happenned to all the Miss Smiths ? We seemed to have so many. It is so sad to see the building in such a sorry state. It was such a vibrant place in its time. We were all so fit we had to walk everywhere to play hockey,to swim and of course the clamber up the several flights of stairs to play netball. Those were the days.
Looking at these pics sent a shiver down my spine! I was at SDHS from 1972 to 1979. I last went inside the building in 1989 when it was closed as a school but had become part of the College of FE. The Music Room on the ground floor was being used for flower arranging and upstairs the staffroom had been converted into a shower/sauna area – next to this was a big white bare room where they practised massage – I was one of the guinea pigs! I could NOT remember what that room used to be while I was… it was in fact the Library! I still dream about Stoke Damerel – the rooms, the teachers, friends… sad to see the building in such a state of decay. RIP SDHS and all the good memories
What a shame, the state of the place.I was there from 1961-1966 with Miss Dixon.
I was there from 1974-1981. Miss Dixon was the Headmistress followed by Mrs Green. I remember the playground on the roof and how long the climb was from the ground floor to reach it. We used to try and hide from the dinner ladies to try and avoid the long climb. The tiolets up there were freezing! Great view from the roof and it was fantastic for sunbathing in the summer. Many many happy memories of Stoke Damerel. There is a reunion of all old girls on October 10th 2010 call 01752 773323.
I was there from 1966-1971. Miss Dixon was headmistress and my first form mistress was Mrs Grose.
The playground was on the roof but the walls and railings were so high that there was no fear of anyone falling off!
I am so sad to see the school in this state. I’ve often thought I would love to walk down the corridors again and see the classrooms and hall.
Does anyone know what is to become of it?
I was in the last intake of girls in 1981 till 1986. The school was closed due to the Council’s plans to close the Grammar Schools in Plymouth. We were joined by Sutton Boys in 1984 as they were closing too.
Our head was Miss Squire and we used to loose our netballs of the roof frequently. There were lots of stairs and we had a system where you went up one set & down the others. The toilets were outside in the coutyard- cold & rats!
Sad to see this building in such a state!
I was there from 1964-1970. I remember it being a draughty old place. The playground was on the roof – breaks were spent there too.It was freezing up there sometimes! We’d often ‘accidently’ loose netballs over the roof and spend the rest of the lesson looking for them!The headmistress was called Doris Dixon (‘Miss’ of course) who was follwed by Miss Squire who was the geography teacher. Happy days!!
I attended the school from September 1980 to July 1985. I’m really sad to see what has happened to the building – even in it’s state of disrepair it brought back alot of happy memories!
I attended this school in the 1970′s..
Judging from your pic’s it’s gone downhill..lol..
I think it was lack of funding that closed the old gal. “Doris” and I can’t remember her last name was the head mistress , Miss squire was the second one.
long time ago.. but it’s neat to see it now.. Thanks..
I live about 500 yards from this building, I’ve alwasy wanted to sneak in have a look, though I’m terrorfied of running into squatters or homeless people, or being arrested.
I’ve never been able to find out why this school was shut down; I’ve heard it was because the play ground is on the roof and that a girl jumped (or was pushed) off. You can just see what might be a court yard on the roof from ground level. Info on this would be very helpfull.