A BARROW school building was recognised as an important part of the town's history back in 1994 as it was given listed status.

The main Alfred Barrow School building, in Duke Street, was then 106 years old and was one of 289 buildings in the town which had been reviewed by English Heritage.

Ron Smith, Barrow librarian and Barrow Civic Society founder member, told The Mail, on January 17: "We were concerned to get Alfred Barrow listed.

"It is one of the very early secondary schools, the forerunner of the grammar school.

"It's an important building.

The Victorian building, now a medical centre, was built to house Barrow's Higher Grade School in 1888 from designs by J. Y. McIntosh.

Headteacher Roger Titcombe said: "Our main building's splendid interior and exterior symbolise the immense value placed upon education by the Victorian founders of the town.

"The whole community will be delighted that the building has been recognised by the Department of National Heritage as worthy of preservation for the benefit of present and future generations."

The school's after-hours study club received national recognition from the charity Educational Extra in 1995.

An article in The Mail, on October 1995, noted that the club members were presented with a distinction, a cheque for £420 and a voucher for £75 by Barrow mayor, Cllr Steve Derbyshire, at an open evening.

It noted: "The cash will be used to fund the school's first aid project, one of the subjects studied by pupils after school."

Other activities included art, music, dance, radio communications, sport, photography and even traditional country dancing.

You could even take a break from the standard academic subjects to polish strategy and spelling skills through Monopoly or Scrabble.

It noted: "The scheme, which is funded entirely by donations from charity, is one of the most ambitious in the country.

"Pupils can attend classes on four nights of the week with staff giving their time voluntarily."

It wasn't all hard work. Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, the club members had boarded a bus outside the school for a trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The Mail, on May 2 in 1995, noted that the trip was open to year seven and eight pupils who had attended more than half of the after-school sessions.

Student council member and study club helper Lisa Withers, 14, said: "It's a brilliant idea and the kids get something they deserve after all their hard work."