School’s history put in the frame during camp revamp

Over The Wall Camp has been bringing together the past and the future as it continues to ready its new Derbyshire base to welcome children with serious illnesses and disabilities.

Work is well underway at the former Ockbrook School to create bespoke, wheelchair-accessible accommodation and activity spaces in the Mount, the former nursery and junior school building.

Most recently, the development has included replacing all the windows with replica designs based on those seen on the original building, which dates back to the 19th century.

The children’s charity said it is eager to preserve the history of Ockbrook School, one of the UK’s oldest schools, as its new custodian.

Chief executive Kevin Mathieson said: “We knew we needed to replace all the windows at the Mount to meet modern building regulations and to make the building more thermally efficient.

“A Heritage Report uncovered some early photos of the building showing that the window frames in the original building were very different to those in place when we took on the lease of the school in 2024. At some point in the school’s long history, they’d been replaced.

“As the new custodians of the former school, we are sensitive and mindful of its rich history, and this was an opportunity too good to miss.

“So, the new wooden window frames reflect those original features, with modern energy-efficient glass.

“We’re very grateful to the Moravian Union, our landlords, for welcoming this change and sharing the additional costs of the site development with us.”

Ockbrook School has a long history of education dating back to 1799.

The site is considered rare and of high historical value, as one of only four such settlements nationally.

Over The Wall Camp’s ‘Saving Ockbrook’s Heritage’ project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.