A recent upload from YouTube account Urbandoned explores some of Glasgow’s derelict schools built by the Glasgow School Board - including Allan Glen, Greenfield, Sir John Maxwell and Bellahouston Academy.
The Urbandoned team are three urban explorers based in the UK, who upload to their YouTube platform every two weeks with new footage inside some of the country's dilapidated structures. Here in Glasgow, their video gives a rare glimpse inside the spooky schools that have long since lain empty.
The video is the second part of the team's visit to the city, with another upload from January 2021 looking at some of Glasgow’s other abandoned schools. Continuing their exploration, the group of three attempt to make their way into the decaying premises.
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The Glasgow School Board was formed in 1873, aiming to get the 40% of children without schooling back into the classroom. Between 1873 and 1918, the board built over 75 schools - each accommodating between 800 to 1000 children.
The schools were hugely successful in reducing illiteracy and increasing attendance rates, but many haven’t stood the test of time.
Several of these schools lay abandoned today due to maintenance fees, low attendance, and outdated structures. Several have been given listed status, and lay empty waiting for a developer to give the building a new lease of life - whilst others have already been flattened or converted.
On a typical gloomy day in the city, the team first look into the old St James Primary School - which was announced to be in renovation several years ago, and is set to reopen in 2024 as a new Gaelic Medium Education centre. They then move on to Allen Glen Secondary School, situated in the middle of Glasgow.
One of the few pre-war buildings surviving in the area, the Urbandoned team made it into the structure. The team tells us: “It really is so trashed in here.
“The rarity and vintage aspect of the architecture that we are losing every day was in abundance throughout the Glasgow School Board, and they go under appreciated by the hundreds of people who walk by every minute.”
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In its later years, Allan Glen served as a therapy centre before closing for good in 2013. The group moved on to the building that once served as Bellahouston Academy - first opened in 1885.
Surrounded by scaffolding with machinery currently at work on demolition of the surrounding buildings, the former school is currently in the process of being knocked down to make way for 36 flats.
Viewers are then taken to the former Greenfield Primary School, first opened in 1901 and remains largely as it was when built. It’s said that almost every child in Govan learned to swim at Greenfield, including well known football manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Abandoned since 2009, the school has seen many incidents of vandalism, though it has retained most of its features. The building currently has Category B listed protection, and it's hoped that a buyer will consider renovations within the coming years.
Finally, we head to Pollokshaws to visit the Sir John Maxwell Primary School - built in 1906. It lasted as a school until June 2011, and has lain empty since.
One of the most dilapidated of the schools, the team at Urbandoned described the building: “Each room in here is in shocking condition, they are all pretty much unsafe to go into.”
That being said - none of the abandoned schools are recommended to enter, with many slowly falling down and damaged by damp. If you like exploring them, stick to YouTube and let the footage do the work.
If you’re a fan of urban exploring, the YouTube account Urbandoned has launched a magazine of the same name - which is available to purchase on their website.
