The County Boys School in Denbigh, formerly the Grammar School was moved to the purpose built Middle Lane complex, built by James Hughes, in 1902-3 where it continued to expand, leading to extra premises being built out of the town centre on Ruthin Road. The school at this point was then split between the two sites with the younger pupils being taught at the new site before moving up to Middle Lane later. The entire school was amalgamated at the Ruthin Road site in 1983.

D.Jones RCAHMW 16/08/2012

References:
W.A. Evans, Y Bych: The History of the Denbigh Grammar School


In 1889 the Welsh Intermediate Education Act established county education committees, recognising the need for secondary schools that could be democratically controlled and free from denominational bias. This led to a drastic increase in secondary school provision, with over 90 schools built in the decade following the act. In 1894 the Grammar school on Park Lane was taken over by the County Governing Body, who in 1902-03 constructed the `Boys County School? (girls being similarly accommodated in Ruthin) on Middle Lane. Designed by local architect, James Hughes, it is an imposing building incorporating more traditional elements of Tudor Gothic than the Board School, and is representative of the new breed of school building that was initiated by the `Tate Welsh Intermediate School Competition? in 1890. The provision of the central bay decorated with a dragon, and corner turrets, were perhaps designed to instil in the boys an aesthetic sensibility that they were thought unable to develop in working-class homes, an ideology that was carried through to the interior where the classrooms were `ornamented with excellent works of art?. conducive to ?. good taste?.

A number of factors had come to bear on school design by this date, namely the requirements for a wider ranging syllabus, the associated need for classroom teaching, and the recognition of the impact of school design on the pupil's health. The Tate Competition laid down a number of requirements for architects designing the ideal Welsh `county school?, including 15sq. feet of space per pupil, self-contained classrooms for each class, single locker desks, specialist facilities for scientific and practical subjects and an assembly hall ? a structure which was replacing the central place of the schoolroom. Teaching in Denbigh County School was entirely given over to separate classrooms, the schoolroom replaced by the more specifically named lecture theatre, and an emphasis on the facilities needed for teaching of sciences and practical arts was recognised with the provision of laboratories, balance rooms and workshops. A major advance was also the inclusion of a library, not only for use within the school day but for the lending of books that the boys could utilise at home. In addition to the emphasis on lighting and ventilation within the buildings, the school's `elevated and healthy site? allowed for large playgrounds, football and cricket-fields as well the ability for the prestigious facade to be prominently displayed within the town.

In 1937 the school underwent massive expansion, increasing to 220 the number of pupils accommodated, and was dualised in order to make local provision for the girls of Denbigh. Unlike many of the grammar schools of this era, which sought to retain a visible sense of prestige and `traditional virtues? through maintaining revivalist architecture for new builds, the new ranges at Denbigh Grammar were built in a Modernist style, with a minimal number, but strong individual elements, of Art Deco in the exterior elevations.

The quadrangular plan, by this date standard in secondary schools, allowed for good access to natural daylight and cross-ventilation for all rooms, as well as providing a sheltered, but open air, central area. Internally the ranges were grouped by function, potentially `noisy? vocational and sporting activities confined to the ground floors, science laboratories to the first floor and general purpose class rooms to the single storey range. Although dualist, as well as separate changing, showering and cloakroom facilities, girls? and boys? entrances were provided along with male and female staff rooms continuing a level of segregation.

In 1938 New School on Ruthin Road ? later renamed Caledfryn - was built and this later merged with Denbigh Grammar to form Denbigh High School. In the 1980's the Middle Lane complex was closed, and the school concentrated as the Denbigh High School on Ruthin Road.

S Fielding RCAHMW
October 2018