Collection GB 0366 MA - MARTIN, Bruce (b 1917)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0366 MA

Title

MARTIN, Bruce (b 1917)

Date(s)

  • 1946-1952 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1 box

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Bruce Martin (b 1917) studied at Cambridge and then with the Architectural Association. Following World War Two he worked in the Architects' Department of Hertfordshire County Council. The County Architects Department was formed in 1946 with C.H. Aslin as County Architect and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall as his Deputy. On the instigation of the County Education Department and under the influence of its famous Education Officer, John Newsom, it immediately embarked on what became known as 'The Hertfordshire experiment': a large building programme designed to provide many new primary schools for the County. In order to meet this challenge The Architects' Department used many pioneering techniques, including the pre-ordering of building materials, and the use of prefabricated construction. It also employed innovative educational ideas, which were associated with the move to 'child-centred' schools. The programme received widespread coverage in the architectural press. As part of the team responsible for the design and construction of primary schools in the County, Martin worked alongside Mary Crowley, A.R. Garrod, W.D. Lacey, David Medd, Oliver Carey, Anthony Cox and W.A. Henderson. Many of this group went on to become influential figures in the 'new school building' movement. The 1947 Primary School Programme of the County Council included the design of ten new primary schools: The Burleigh School, Blindman's Lane, Cheshunt; Essendon; Mill Lane Junior Mixed Infants School, Bushey; Strathmore Avenue Infant School, Hitchin; Bedford Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Letchworth; LCC Estate Junior School, Oxhey; Oliver Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Hemel Hempstead; and Little Green Lane Junior School, Croxley Green. In the following years he was also involved in the design and construction of Morgans Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Hertford.

Archival history

This collection was given to the National Primary Education Archive at Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln, by Bruce Martin in October 1995 (NPEA Accession No. 95/11), and transferred to the Institute of Education in June 1998.
GB 0366 MA 1946-1952 collection 1 box Martin , Bruce , b 1917 , architect

Bruce Martin (b 1917) studied at Cambridge and then with the Architectural Association. Following World War Two he worked in the Architects' Department of Hertfordshire County Council. The County Architects Department was formed in 1946 with C.H. Aslin as County Architect and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall as his Deputy. On the instigation of the County Education Department and under the influence of its famous Education Officer, John Newsom, it immediately embarked on what became known as 'The Hertfordshire experiment': a large building programme designed to provide many new primary schools for the County. In order to meet this challenge The Architects' Department used many pioneering techniques, including the pre-ordering of building materials, and the use of prefabricated construction. It also employed innovative educational ideas, which were associated with the move to 'child-centred' schools. The programme received widespread coverage in the architectural press. As part of the team responsible for the design and construction of primary schools in the County, Martin worked alongside Mary Crowley, A.R. Garrod, W.D. Lacey, David Medd, Oliver Carey, Anthony Cox and W.A. Henderson. Many of this group went on to become influential figures in the 'new school building' movement. The 1947 Primary School Programme of the County Council included the design of ten new primary schools: The Burleigh School, Blindman's Lane, Cheshunt; Essendon; Mill Lane Junior Mixed Infants School, Bushey; Strathmore Avenue Infant School, Hitchin; Bedford Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Letchworth; LCC Estate Junior School, Oxhey; Oliver Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Hemel Hempstead; and Little Green Lane Junior School, Croxley Green. In the following years he was also involved in the design and construction of Morgans Road Junior Mixed Infants School, Hertford.

This collection was given to the National Primary Education Archive at Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln, by Bruce Martin in October 1995 (NPEA Accession No. 95/11), and transferred to the Institute of Education in June 1998.

Papers of Bruce Martin, including notes, reports, memoranda and other material concerning the building of a Junior Mixed Infants School at Blindman's Lane, Cheshunt, 1946-1948; printed papers about the design and building of primary schools in Hertfordshire, 1947-1952; a copy of Bruce Martin, School Buildings 1945-1951 (Crosby Lockwood, London, 1953).

Open.

A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Librarian or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.
English

See also the papers of David Medd (DC/ME) and the Photographic Archive og the Architects and Building Branch, Ministry of Education (DC/ABB).

Stuart Maclure, Educational Development and School Building: Aspects of Public Policy 1945-1973 (Longman, London, 1984) contains a chapter on 'The Hertfordshire Experiment, 1945-1949'.

 Created 06/9/1999, modified  12/5/2000 Architecture Burleigh School, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire Educational buildings England Europe Hertfordshire Hertfordshire County Council , Architect's Department Martin , Bruce , b 1917 , architect School buildings UK Western Europe London

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Bruce Martin, including notes, reports, memoranda and other material concerning the building of a Junior Mixed Infants School at Blindman's Lane, Cheshunt, 1946-1948; printed papers about the design and building of primary schools in Hertfordshire, 1947-1952; a copy of Bruce Martin, School Buildings 1945-1951 (Crosby Lockwood, London, 1953).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction

A reader wishing to publish any quotation of information, including pictorial, derived from any archive material must apply in writing for prior permission from the Librarian or other appropriate person(s) as indicated by the Archivist. A limited number of photocopies may be supplied at the discretion of the Archivist.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also the papers of David Medd (DC/ME) and the Photographic Archive og the Architects and Building Branch, Ministry of Education (DC/ABB).

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

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Place access points

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Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Institute of Education

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area