Portobello Road School

[Hazelg]

Can anyone shed some light on exactly where the Portobello Road School in London, is or used to be? My grandfather was the live-in caretaker in the 1930s but I cannot find any trace of the building. I have been told that it could have changed its name to the Sir Isaac Newton school, but this has been impossible to prove. How can I find out where it was or is, and if it has been demolished? Many thanks in advance.

[PaulS]

My late father lived off the Portobello Road in the 20's and 30's and went to Oxford Gardens School.

You could contact the school and see if they have any records relating to Caretaker's in the 1930's.

[nanny jan]

Hi,

According to "An Index of London Schools and their Records" by Cliff Webb
Portobello Road School was in Notting Hill and records are kept at the London Metropolitan Archives.

The log books might contain a reference to the caretaker.


Nanny Jan

[paul*]

My mother used to go to Oxford Gardens (me too!) which was for infants and juniors. When she was old enough she moved to Portobello Road school. I will see if she can remember exactly where it was.

[Meriel]

Hello,

Have you seen this on the Access to Archives website:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=074-lcc_8&cid=3-59#3-59

Does seem to confirm that Portobello school became Isaac Newton School.

Mx

[Meriel]

And someone has posted some pix on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/malcnhg/685223049/in/set-72157600735872133/

I assume LBS stands for London Board School...

[paul*]

Well I asked my mother, she says it was on the west side of Portobello Road a little north of the Lancaster Road junction. In fact there was also an entrance on the north side of Lancaster Road which she used to use.

Hope this is of some use, the photos linked to earlier seem to indicate that the building still stands.

[Meriel]

Thanks to Paul's info I have had a look on the Charles Booth map and think I may have found it 'Board School':

http://www.rootschat.com/links/05ow/

[Hazelg]

Loads and loads of thanks to all those kind souls who gave me information - please keep it coming. The London Metropolitan Archives are a fab place and through them I have a map of the area in the 1930's which show the school just to the north of Lancaster Rd as Paul said. The photo of the school sign is a real treasure! Thanks Meriel. Does anyone know how I might get hold of the board of governor's records (assuming that they had a governing body which kept records), or any other information about the staff. The school log books are mainly about the teaching staff and the non-teaching staff don't get a mention. RootsChat is a real joy!