'Abandoned,' School........ Claughton Blowers Green Dudley West Midlands 2020 

It is truly a shame that this piece of history is left to rot. Its good that you are documenting it before its gone. Thanks for this! Well done!

Yes it’s a great shame that the people in the local council don’t have the vision or foresight to see the value of such iconic buildings. Well filmed Ian. 👍

My old school, I left in 1982 it was a good school but it was being neglected when I was there, such a shame. Thanks for the video I can remember it all very well, I always noticed that the front was very elegant but the rear was just plain boring !

Great job highlighting this awesome old building. Keep up the great work mace hopefully you can make a change to save one or two xxx

My old school, I was there from 1974 to 1980. Did you discover the basement area on the south side of the building directly under what were the kitchens and the music room? The stairs down to the basement were a continuation of the stairs to the first floor. In my day it was a large workshop / metalwork room with a small classroom next door that was used for technical drawing. The low ceilings weren't original, all the classrooms around the centre dining room area had high ceilings, so they must have been added later when the council took it over. The balcony, many a 1st year was dangled over that by the 5th years!

Ive explored the outside of this building so many times recently!!! You taught me so many new things I hadn't even noticed that I'm going to look out for when I go back! I only managed to get to explore after they had half knocked it down which is a shame. Will defo keep my eyes open to the things you pointed out on the exterior tho! Thanks for this!!!

Great video Macey, looks like the roof has suffered fire damage. Shame the building is being left to rot. A few buildings in Wolves have suffered the same fate. Especially the Eye Hospital, being trashed and suffered fire damage. Be Safe

I visited this School back in late 1989 as part of a school trip to visit local secondary schools to see which one was the secondary school you could apply for. Although no one could go there as is was closing. Wasn't the Primary School located to the right also part of that school at one time? The building dates back more than a century and it first opened up as the Dudley Upper Standards School for children aged 12-18 in 1904. It had quite a few names before becoming the Sir Gilbert Claughton Grammar Technical School in 1957 - named after the Worcestershire-born 19th century businessman and politician. Sir Gilbert Henry Claughton, 1st Baronet (21 February 1856 - 27 June 1921).

So much of this country's history going down the pan! I never understand why councils have plans for places like this when it's almost too late to save the buildings. Another great film and explore Ian 👍

Absolutely love your videos. I'm an artist based in the area and always on the lookout for interesting old buildings to make work about. Passed this school every week and tried taking photos from outside but couldn't get close enough with the fencing, so it was really inspiring to see this video. Thanks again.

Really crazy to see some of my art at 5:20, though the bottom half is missing. Really cool place

Wow you found a real gem 💎 here, that bath in the middle of that great room, how strange. It’s sickening to think that Dudley Council have allowed this wonderful building to fall apart. They should be sued and forced to bring it back to full functionality as a school. You would think it would be listed with the beautiful architecture of it. Great job dude😊👍

The school was originally called the Dudley Upper Standards School when it opened in 1904 and changed name several times before becoming the Sir Gilbert Claughton School in 1957, the title honouring a late 19th century mayor of Dudley. It closed following a merger with another school to create Castle High. Dudley Council then moved into the site and it was used as offices, a youth centre and meeting site but it has not been used by the authority for a number of years. Most recently know as the Claughton Centre, the building has been derelict for several years and was set to be turned into apartments after being sold at auction for £405,000 last year.

There used to be a balcony around the dining hall with classrooms off both downstairs and upstairs. Many a child was was spangled over there.

Thank you for showing us around. I went past on the bus for the first time and was intrigued to venture in.

My mother and my husband attended this school, very sad to see it in such a condition!

such a shame you would have thought these were grade listed buildings

Incredible video, just wondering, would you know if there is any asbestos or things like that in there?

I love old buildings, why the hell they don't use them is beyond stupid. The thought it's not practical is utter bullshit. Thank you for this, I went to school in Dudley.

It's a crying shame that they let these Beautiful old buildings get like this. Some lovely features on this building including some great Wrought Iron Workings as well X

Ar the good old fire excuse . Response for many a building nobody wants responsibility for or to get rid of or knock down.we will never see the like of these buildings again

My old school, Sir Gilbert Claughton.

Hi. Does the council still own this land/building. I read it was sold for £400,000 at auction. Whoever bought it owns part of the path round the back. I read there were plans to demolish the building kn 2016 which the council agreed to dispite it being Of Historical interest. That the land round the back which has a public footpath which many people use as a shortcut to a school apparently isnt used by the public and crosses onto the new owners land. Apparently the land round the back on right of path has no public access either. Well it would if it wasnt blocked off. They fenced off the massive lawn and put up a keep out sign on the back but left the path to the school which cuts a big chunk of walking round ( 20 min ) open for now. Think they are planning on building on some land that was originally parkland. Saw a couple of guys measuring and surveying a square piece of tarmac land on the other side of the path on Friday. Abit worried they are going to build on here too as kids like to run on here on the way home. This should be left and restored for the kids. We have enough buildings round the back here. Churchfield street people are on top of each other not to mention parking on the roads and if you do want to take your kids to the nearest park 20 min walk the paths are too narrow and crossing the roads are a nightmare and traffic comes from 5 directions high curbs and new road where you can barely fit a push chair with narrow paths and dodging nettles and thorny brambles. This building is beautiful. Are they going to restore it or k ock it down?

i went to this school i think it’s Edwardian and that sky light in the middle was never there when we was kids we used to throw things onto people from up there down onto the people eating their dinner

When they built the new High School in Fochabers the community insisted that they used the old school as the primary school, so keeping some really neat architecture alive. The council should be held to account by the people.

Just in case you fancy a revisit, there's a lower entrance that goes in through the basement now that's been opened.

Looks so much different of a day time!

Like you Ian, it makes my pee fizz when I see wanton destruction or ruination of our beautiful local Black Country buildings. Also on my hit list, people who buy period houses then proceed to rip the guts out of them, beautiful period features that once lost will never be the same again. Thank you for posting, looking forward to a mooch on your channel and to more postings. Keep up the good work.

Such a lovely building They certainly don’t build them like that anymore New school look like aircraft hangers!

Such a shame, nice building, pass by it every now and then. In an ideal world it would serve as a library or place of general study now that it no longer functions as a school.

Another great exploration video Ian. It just makes me so angry to see buildings of such architecture being left to rot. The Victorians never did things by halves and the quality and design of this building just shows this. Something needs to be done before it is lost forever. I fear that the old public library on Moor Street in Brierley Hill, although listed may now end up in the same state of disrepair. Whilst empty it has been raided for use as a cannabis factory but is now slowly becoming worse for wear. An exploration may be in order x

This has gone the same way that many abandoned council owned buildings have gone. After they close they aren't bothered about until they become a danger to public safety. A real shame the council dont think they wanna do anything about it. If only they actually looked after a building imagine the possibilities

My old youth club❤️many years of happy friday night club and holiday schemes here, gutted to hear they'd knocked it down and left the school bit to run down💔

Wow, a brilliant video mate, well done, great filming and music, it is sickening to think this place should NEVER been allowed to deteriorate like this, why did it have to close..? suppose the council wanted to save a few bob then go and waste millions on some other half brained scheme.. at least you have captured this gem because i'm sure it will be knocked down to build some cheap flats for the council to sell... take care mate, cant wait for your next....

I'm a student of Sir Gilbert cloughton

Very interesting building. That looked like black mold in the ceiling of the room at 6:53. You should really wear a mask. You do not need any lung problems, Ian. Try to Stay Well.

hello friend nice video :x

Cool Place Man... Some Interesting Architecture & Features Going On Here..!! Yeah Man Dig, The Wall Walking Gettin Old 'SCHOOL' With That Man,... Cool.......... Go Check Out Longlands, Took A Bit Of A Battering..!!!!!!! C U Around Man... L8Rz

Is it still there now?

oyy spiderman wheres yer hard hat

That's my old school.

Looks like there has been a fire here recently.

Just like the rest of the UK,gone to rack and ruin ☹️

Can't hear what your saying over the music😔

Hey, me and my friends are explorers of abandoned buildings. Was wondering if you wanted to meet and do some exploring. Get back to me if you're interested

Should be turned into apartments