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The Ragged School Blog Deptford

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Deptford is all around you


This is the approach down Hales Street I would have originally taken when walking a new route from Deptford High Street towards Deptford Church Street to catch a 47 bus (opposite Wavelengths Leisure centre). At that time the building was not covered in 'permission based graffiti', but was still orangey red brick. I remember thinking, what is this place, an old wash house ? When I read the plaque which said Ragged School, I immediately thought about Jerwood Space in Union Street SE1, a Victorian school converted to a very successful mixed arts facility opened in 1998. Its something which has inspired my investigations into urban regeneration working with heritage, not against it. Naturally I imagined the Ragged School to have similar potential for Deptford. I didnt then know anything about the building until I returned another day when the door was open and to my amazement there was a gallery showing. The place was alive with artists and visitors coming and going and reminded me more of the atmosphere of The Foundry at Great Eastern Street EC2. Just as I was getting excited about a vibrant new creative zone, I learned that the fate of the building was uncertain. Within that I realised that so many minor historical buildings around Britain are being used as 'regeneration firewood'. I am using this blog to make associations with groups and individuals to explore how digital technologies are letting citizens reclaim 'regeneration' from the glossy brochures and sales rhetoric, and back into the hands of local people. Creativity is more important than funding, grants, investment etc, as money will always go towards a vision that works, but just a shiny new building will not neccessarily attract visionary activity.

1 Comments:

At 2:04 am, Blogger andreworford ªº said...

Sadly the ragged school was sold by its previous owner The Shaftesbury Society as 'scrap' in an auction and the current owners MacDonald Egan have planning permission to demolish it. At this time they are just letting it rot. It is not now practically possible to save it. But it is a wake up call to Britain that everyday minor historical buildings are being used as fodder to provide the sites for new buildings. Do not despair, the fact that you have found this blog and left a comment is testimony to a sea change in the way people discover and interact with 'heritage'. Ultimately we must start to update the appraisal and safeguards of minor historical (unlisted) buildings before their continuous erosion leads to an urban wasteland - devoid of a sense of place. Encourage your friends to blog about any local matter and help that sea change gather steam so that we can create an early warning system for campaigners to act much sooner.

 

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