DEANS FAMILY RELICS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27206, 25 November 1953, Page 10

DEANS FAMILY RELICS

TREASURES OF BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

PLACE IN BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

The Christchurch Boys’ High School treasures relics of the Deans family, pioneer settlers, whose original property it occupies. In the stream behind the school there were found ornamental tiles of attractive design and in sound condition in spite of their great age. Still standing behind the main school building is the, Deans stable block. These 100-year-old pieces of history are recalled by recent improvements at the school. The eight tiles, freshened and tinted to match, are almost the only familiar feature (apart from basic form) in the transformation of the' - assembly hall. They are set in the walls. It is just a year ago that the Director of Education (Mr C. E. Beeby), who is an old boy, announced at the break-up ceremony the Government’s approval for the completion of the hall. That ceremony was held in a fine hall —but it had bare brick walls. * This year’s prize-giving will be held in vastly different surroundings although the job is not quite finished. The Government" provided the funds for an austerity hall but the Old Boys’ Association and the parent-teacher association helped raise funds for its refinement.

Assembly Hall Interior Now the bare bricks are faced on the lower walls with rich panelling matching the Australian black wood in the downstairs entrance vestibule. The upper walls are plastered and painted a warm peach shade. The ceiling is! powder blue. The cornices have a freize of gold in an embossed Tudor rose motif The proscenium arch of the stage is plain and impressive. The main stairs have been tiled and at their head will eventually be placed the old boys’ memorial panels for the Second World War. One of the Deans’s stables now overlooks the swimming bath. The dis-, tinctive curved roof has been raised and an upper storey has been added. This contains- a long lunchroom which will be formally handed over to the school this afternoon. The money for its construction was provided by the Sarent-teacher association and subsiised by the Government. This is another bright and airy room. Panelling in natural light-wood tonings roaches from the floor to head height and above that the colour scheme is light cream. Giving a commanding view over the swimming pool, trees, and the school tower, are windows stretching from hip level to the ceiling along the whole frontage. Most of them swing open to give an openair effect.

The front brick wall of the old stable has been removed to make a grbundfloor open shelter which may ultimately house dressing rooms and showers for swimmers. The ancient bricks are being preserved to fortify the embankments of the nearby stream.