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lizardpics
03-06-2011, 01:25 AM
Fylde farm/school/community

Originally opened in 1904 with the name of "Fylde school", under the ownership of North west young persons development trust (NWYPDT) then named "Fylde approved school for boys" in 1933.

the Fylde school site opened in the early 1900's as a school for troubled children, one step away from borstal. up until the early 1950's the site consisted of the main building (secure housing), a working farm and 2 semi detached houses classed as staff housing. the site remained the same until the late 50's when school buildings, technology block, gymnasium, workshops, secure units and more residential homes were added to the site. the idea for these buildings was to prepare the inmates for release, by teaching them life skills and giving them a place to study, as well as extra staff housing. These building were named, Cheshire house, Lancashire house and Westmorland house, and the staff accommodation known as Fylde school cottages.

The site stayed roughly the same up until the late 90's when and order was brought forward for a new high security unit to be built, later to be known as dales house, which is to be seen now. the site also received an all weather football pitch, and improved facilities for the inmates, new gym equipment, pool tables, hi fi's, TV's etc. the design and technology was improved with new equipment, new green houses were built, and the farm was working as ever.

the new dales house was opened in 1999, and rumoured to be housing a Mr John Venables. no proof of this has ever been seen, yet the rumour grows momentum. Dales house was then closed in 2002 after only 3 years of use. no figure has ever been published but dales house and improvements were rumoured to cost between 3 and 5 million pounds. after the closure of dales house, the rest of the school was slowly closed up until 2004. in 2003 Emanuel Christian school (ECS) took possession of what was known as top school. As can be seen on the report from zer081.

after the final closure of the school in 2004, the site slowly deteriorated, and became a dumping ground for fly tippers, and place to go to hang out for the local youths of the area, and Westmorland house became a practise area for the local fire brigade, thanks to the youths.

after the closure, NWYPDT handed over the control of the lease for staff housing to Kays Estates, Blackpool. when the site became to the state where street lights had gone out, the site was in darkness, houses and garages were being broken into, youths were repeatedly heard around the area and residents didn’t feel safe, they contacted kays estates to complain, and were told to get in touch with NWYPDT, getting in touch with NWYPDT revealed that for any problems on the site the residents had to get in touch with kays estates as they were responsible for the site. It soon became apparent to the residents that no one was accepting responsibility for the site, and they were on their own.

in July 2007 the residents were issued with a 3 month notice letter to vacate their properties as the land had been sold. Kensington Developments had bought the land on the condition that it was vacant. by November 2007 the only residents remaining were ken and Margaret marsh, an elderly couple who had signed and agreement with NWYPDT to say that their house belonged to them for however long they were living in it, and ECS.

by summer 2010, both ECS and the marshes had been moved out. ECS left the site over safety fears, after the school building was heavily vandalised and set on fire. the marsh's were forced out by the destruction happening around them. since they left, the sight has deteriorated to how it is now.

As it stands, no one will claim ownership of the land, as they don’t want to face the cost of securing it. Lancashire county council (LCC) say it belongs to NWYPDT, NWYPDT say it belongs to Kensington developments, who say it belongs to LCC, who work in partnership with NWYPDT, who say it belongs to Kensington. you get the point.

now to get to the point of why i did this report. I have a personal connection with this site, My girlfriend lived in Fylde cottages for 17 years of her life since birth. 17 years of her life growing up, to be moved out 4 years ago upsets her very deeply. Her memories of growing up in the "Fylde community" are all happy ones, until July 2007, since then all her memories of Fylde are bad ones. her father worked as a social worker in close contact with the inmates of Fylde farm, and had former inmates visit him to tell him how good he was for the lads future, as have all the staff I’ve had contact with. this leads to the question of why the school was closed? it was obviously working.
My girlfriends family have heard from their neighbours, ken and Margaret marsh, and heard about the sounds and sights after they moved out. the marsh’s told them of the sound of the copper wiring, piping, electrical fittings, windows smashing, kitchen units and fireplace being ripped out of the walls, all within weeks of moving out. all happening in their house.

My personal memory of Fylde farm is from June 2006. I first visited the site, and was shocked and very intrigued as to why the site had been left in such a way, i had the privilege that most people didn’t, of witnessing the site how it was left by the NWYPDT. My first memory of the site is seeing Cheshire house still fitted with tables, maid with Knives, forks and plates with food still on them. It was as if there had been a 4 minute warning, and everyone had vacated.

visiting the site on 31/5/11 my memory hasn’t changed, im still very intrigued as to why the site had to close. I still have no idea of why Fylde farm couldn’t go on, and 4 years later, i still have the feeling it could be of use. to open up again the way it was, it would provide affordable housing, a working farm, school, and a modern day borstal providing employment, it would bring the youth that has caused the demise of the site to justice, and provide a safe, quiet community to live in.

i know ive gone on for a while, and i thank you for making it to the end of this report, but i leave you with one final thought.

"the people that have caused Fylde farm/school to be in this state, could have once been inmates here for their crimes."

sadly ironic i feel.

thank you for making it to the end of my report, if I lost you half way, im not surprised.

Thanks again, Carl (lizardpics)

lizardpics
03-06-2011, 01:14 PM
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Fylde farm/school/community

Originally opened in 1904 with the name of "Fylde school", under the ownership of North west young persons development trust (NWYPDT) then named "Fylde approved school for boys" in 1933.

the Fylde school site opened in the early 1900's as a school for troubled children, one step away from borstal. up until the early 1950's the site consisted of the main building (secure housing), a working farm and 2 semi detached houses classed as staff housing. the site remained the same until the late 50's when school buildings, technology block, gymnasium, workshops, secure units and more residential homes were added to the site. the idea for these buildings was to prepare the inmates for release, by teaching them life skills and giving them a place to study, as well as extra staff housing. These building were named, Cheshire house, Lancashire house and Westmorland house, and the staff accommodation known as Fylde school cottages.

The site stayed roughly the same up until the late 90's when and order was brought forward for a new high security unit to be built, later to be known as dales house, which is to be seen now. the site also received an all weather football pitch, and improved facilities for the inmates, new gym equipment, pool tables, hi fi's, TV's etc. the design and technology was improved with new equipment, new green houses were built, and the farm was working as ever.

the new dales house was opened in 1999, and rumoured to be housing a Mr John Venables. no proof of this has ever been seen, yet the rumour grows momentum. Dales house was then closed in 2002 after only 3 years of use. no figure has ever been published but dales house and improvements were rumoured to cost between 3 and 5 million pounds. after the closure of dales house, the rest of the school was slowly closed up until 2004. in 2003 Emanuel Christian school (ECS) took possession of what was known as top school. As can be seen on the report from zer081.

after the final closure of the school in 2004, the site slowly deteriorated, and became a dumping ground for fly tippers, and place to go to hang out for the local youths of the area, and Westmorland house became a practise area for the local fire brigade, thanks to the youths.

after the closure, NWYPDT handed over the control of the lease for staff housing to Kays Estates, Blackpool. when the site became to the state where street lights had gone out, the site was in darkness, houses and garages were being broken into, youths were repeatedly heard around the area and residents didn’t feel safe, they contacted kays estates to complain, and were told to get in touch with NWYPDT, getting in touch with NWYPDT revealed that for any problems on the site the residents had to get in touch with kays estates as they were responsible for the site. It soon became apparent to the residents that no one was accepting responsibility for the site, and they were on their own.

in July 2007 the residents were issued with a 3 month notice letter to vacate their properties as the land had been sold. Kensington Developments had bought the land on the condition that it was vacant. by November 2007 the only residents remaining were ken and Margaret marsh, an elderly couple who had signed and agreement with NWYPDT to say that their house belonged to them for however long they were living in it, and ECS.

by summer 2010, both ECS and the marshes had been moved out. ECS left the site over safety fears, after the school building was heavily vandalised and set on fire. the marsh's were forced out by the destruction happening around them. since they left, the sight has deteriorated to how it is now.

As it stands, no one will claim ownership of the land, as they don’t want to face the cost of securing it. Lancashire county council (LCC) say it belongs to NWYPDT, NWYPDT say it belongs to Kensington developments, who say it belongs to LCC, who work in partnership with NWYPDT, who say it belongs to Kensington. you get the point.

now to get to the point of why i did this report. I have a personal connection with this site, My girlfriend lived in Fylde cottages for 17 years of her life since birth. 17 years of her life growing up, to be moved out 4 years ago upsets her very deeply. Her memories of growing up in the "Fylde community" are all happy ones, until July 2007, since then all her memories of Fylde are bad ones. her father worked as a social worker in close contact with the inmates of Fylde farm, and had former inmates visit him to tell him how good he was for the lads future, as have all the staff I’ve had contact with. this leads to the question of why the school was closed? it was obviously working.
My girlfriends family have heard from their neighbours, ken and Margaret marsh, and heard about the sounds and sights after they moved out. the marsh’s told them of the sound of the copper wiring, piping, electrical fittings, windows smashing, kitchen units and fireplace being ripped out of the walls, all within weeks of moving out. all happening in their house.

My personal memory of Fylde farm is from June 2006. I first visited the site, and was shocked and very intrigued as to why the site had been left in such a way, i had the privilege that most people didn’t, of witnessing the site how it was left by the NWYPDT. My first memory of the site is seeing Cheshire house still fitted with tables, maid with Knives, forks and plates with food still on them. It was as if there had been a 4 minute warning, and everyone had vacated.

visiting the site on 31/5/11 my memory hasn’t changed, im still very intrigued as to why the site had to close. I still have no idea of why Fylde farm couldn’t go on, and 4 years later, i still have the feeling it could be of use. to open up again the way it was, it would provide affordable housing, a working farm, school, and a modern day borstal providing employment, it would bring the youth that has caused the demise of the site to justice, and provide a safe, quiet community to live in.

i know ive gone on for a while, and i thank you for making it to the end of this report, but i leave you with one final thought.

"the people that have caused Fylde farm/school to be in this state, could have once been inmates here for their crimes."

sadly ironic i feel.

thank you for making it to the end of my report, if I lost you half way, im not surprised.

Thanks again, Carl (lizardpics)

lizardpics
23-06-2011, 12:14 PM
"The building of homes on such a site hasn’t come without criticism however, following Kensington Developments recent approval to build 564 homes on Marton Moss"
http://blackpoolaloud.org.uk/2010/05/11/blackpools-pontins-to-become-a-housing-estate/

kensingtons have deserted the plans for fylde farm and been granted permision to build on the old blackpool pontins site. why anyone would buy one house at the end of a runway, let alone 564 i dont know.