Moorlands School, a much-loved community school that has been in Westbourne for 127 years, announced its closure in June. Once midnight strikes on December 31, the school will leave its historic buildings. This is the end of an era for students of all ages and local residents.
Originally an estate of the Tetley family from the local brewing dynasty, Moorlands School was repurposed as an education centre in the 1960s. Since this past summer, the school has sat vacant as plans for its shuttering moved forward. Under headteacher Jacky Atkinson’s leadership over the past eight years, the school has seen an upward trajectory. She told us compelling stories about the school’s legacy and why their beloved artifacts matter.
In a nod to its departure, Moorlands School is auctioning two iconic 1930s dining tables. The ping pong tables featured hand-carved mice produced by East Yorkshire’s iconic craftsman Mouseman. They act as the strong focal point in the school’s dining experience. The legendary 1935 table is an incredible 5 meters long! It’s a considerable risk; experts believe it will fail to attract bids of less than £5,000, £8,000 at best. The 1937 table, which measures 6m long, could be sold for between £8,000 and £12,000. Four benches connected to the tables will be sold as individual lots.
Ms. Atkinson highlighted the importance of these pieces, stating, “The tables and the benches have been a central part of school. They were used every day for the children to have breakfast at, to have lunch at, at tea times.”
Located in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, the original Mouseman workshop is still producing stunning furniture today. Since then, his family has carried on this tradition ever since Thompson’s death in 1955. The legacy of Mouseman furniture is well-established. A recent sale of a librarian’s desk from Moorlands garnered £18,000, while an auction of Mouseman creations from Leeds Girls’ High School in 2008 totaled an impressive £240,000.
The Moorlands tables feature some very cool reclaimed wood with tons of character and history. These signs represent the history of the tables’ place in the school community. Caroline Hawley, an auctioneer involved with the sale, praised the craftsmanship: “The 1937 table is one of the biggest Mouseman pieces I’ve had the privilege of selling at one of our auctions and it’s astonishing to think the top has been crafted from a single piece of oak. All 5.82m of it – quite incredible.
Looking back on the schools legacy, Ms. Atkinson said most alumni should be able to fondly recall times they spent at Moorlands. There’ll be countless ex pupils who will be recalling studying here and countless others who’ll recall coming down to use the swimming pool. It was the heart of the community,” she recounted.
