Former Oakes Junior School now one of the most endangered buildings in the UK
A grade II listed former Huddersfield school is in The Victorian Society’s Top 10 Endangered Buildings List 2026 thanks to Huddersfield Civic Society member Geoff Hughes.
The derelict building on Wellington Street has long been of concern to HCS and was nominated by Geoff in his role as a member of the committee of the West Yorkshire Group of the Victorian Society.
It was built in 1873 and opened as Oakes Board School, one of many nationwide which marked the start of state education for the masses following the 1870 Education Act making school mandatory for everyone between the ages of 5 and 13 to learn the three Rs – reading, writing and arithmetic.
It finally closed as a school – Oakes Junior School – in 1974 when it was replaced by Lindley Junior School.
After a time as residential use it became Wellington Court Residential Care Home for some years until it closed and the building has decayed since then.
The Victorian Society states: “The building has been decaying for many years with spasmodic attempts by its owners to place and replace covers over windows and door spaces and across holes in walls and roofing as these appear and enlarge.
“The two other buildings on the site, by comparison, are in use including Oakes School Lodge which is maintained and occupied.
“Oakes School can and should find re-use. Kirklees Council needs to take enforcement action now. The owner should sell this re-usable building rather than continue a course of action that will lead to the building eventually falling down or having to be demolished.’’
The Victorian Society says the school really stands out as many other aspects of Victorian architecture and heritage in Lindley have been preserved or enhanced.
Wellington Mills has been converted to business units, flats and cafe while the main Acre Mills building is now an extension of the nearby Huddersfield Infirmary with new housing built in the spaces in and around its former weaving sheds.
Oakes Baptist Church remains well used, including opening on Heritage Opening Days.
Victorian Society President Griff Rhys Jones said: “Actions speak louder than words. It is incredible that even in areas surrounded by good examples of preservation where well maintained Victorian buildings add to the charm and success of an area, some forms of prevarication lead to decay, neglect and steady decline.
“The council must not allow this useful, listed and important building to be further abandoned. It is time for the owners to get active or get off.”
Victorian Society director James Hughes said: “Oakes School is a clear example of a building that could and should have a viable future. Its continued decline is not inevitable, but the result of inaction. With strong local demand and successful examples of reuse nearby there is no reason why this building cannot once again contribute to the life of the community.”
Kirklees Council has confirmed it knows who owns the building and is doing all it can to urge the owner to prevent the former school from further deterioration.
A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the former Oakes Junior School being included on the Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings List. The building is privately owned and our planning compliance team has been in contact with the owner over recent months.
“This has focused on the implementation of temporary works to ensure the building remains safe, secure and protected from further deterioration. The effectiveness of these works is being monitored and we remain in ongoing dialogue with the owner.’’
Last year the derelict Huddersfield cemetery chapel (pictured below) – known as twin chapels and steeple – in sprawling Edgerton Cemetery was named in the Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings List 2025.
In February this year huge fences were put around the chapel and 600 graves to prevent people going anywhere near it and Kirklees Council has confirmed this is due to safety concerns regarding the condition of the twin chapels and steeple.
Specialist investigations are carried out to assess the condition of the twin chapels and steeple.
The Kirklees spokesperson added: “Specialist investigations into the chapels and steeple are still underway in Edgerton Cemetery. These are complex surveys with multiple stages and we expect them to be completed in early May. Once this work is finalised we will be in a position to make informed decisions about the current safety fencing and the longer-term future of the structures.
“The cemetery lodge (below) was offered for sale at auction earlier this year but did not meet its reserve price. It has therefore been rescheduled for a future auction date.”
The lodge has a guide price of £125,000 and the online auction ends on June 23. To see the full details click here. https://www.btgeddisonspropertyauctions.com/properties/202601151148sq_r9vf-240326/for-auction-huddersfield
To see all 10 endangered buildings on The Victorian Society website go to https://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/endangered-buildings
Oakes Board School Photo Smith Carter Huddersfield Exposed website
Oakes Junior School in 2026. Photo by Geoff Hughes.
Aerial photos by CAV Aerial