Please see following Press Release from East Suffolk Council:
The heritage of a former school site in Felixstowe will be remembered in town’s archive after East Suffolk Council donates key items.
East Suffolk Council has been working with the Felixstowe Society to identity key items to donate from the former Deben High School site to the town’s archives.
The site was transferred to East Suffolk Council from Suffolk County Council earlier this year with completion due on 15 November and will facilitate the ongoing development of Felixstowe Sports Hub and a new home for Felixstowe Indoor Bowls Club and Cricket Club. Proposals for the redevelopment of the main school building also include a range of housing, in particular affordable units for the town.
To enable the development, a large portion of the former school buildings will be demolished so that the site can be repurposed to accommodate the new development. However, the original Lower School Assembly Hall will be retained as a community asset.
The Council has been working closely with the Felixstowe Society to ensure that key pieces which hold many special memories for the local community are saved for the Felixstowe Secondary School’s Archive before the demolition.
The items identified are mainly from the original Grammar School Building and include the wooden front doors, which will match the special commemorative key held by the Society, corridor signage and masonry. The Council is also working with the Society to create a final photographic library before the work start.
Cllr Steve Gallant, Leader of East Suffolk Council, said: “This is a hugely exciting scheme for the Council and for Felixstowe. We are committed to increasing leisure opportunities in the town and also to improving the housing mix and this will help us to fulfil our ambitions on two important fronts.
“We know that a lot of local people hold very special memories of the former Deben High School and it has been great to be able to work with the Felixstowe Society to save key items that will help ensure these memories are not lost and can be shared with future generations.”
Jean Macpherson, from the Felixstowe Society, said: “We are really pleased that East Suffolk Council has donated these items to the town’s archive, so we can preserve these special memories for many years to come.
“We have had many requests for final tours of the site before work starts, but unfortunately this is not possible due to health and safety restrictions. We hope that the photographic library we are currently working on with the Council will be a positive way for those interested to have a final ‘virtual tour’ of the site.”
For more information about the scheme, including drone footage of the site, go to www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/leisure/sport-and-leisure-development/plans-for-former-deben-high-school-site-felixstowe/
ENDS