The Old School Gallery

Principle Artists in

"Ships of Destiny"

Donald Swan FRSA.

Dorothy Kucera (Texas).

A.M.Galea (Malta).

Frank Sanderson.

T. Willis N.Y.
Margaret Durham.

Brian Ormerod.

W.L.Wyllie

Daphne Constance Allen

Sir James Gunn RA.

William Turner RA.

de Loutherbourge RA.

Colin Hunter ARA.

Sir Joshua Reynolds RA.

Elizabeth Swan

Featured Artists

Artists-

John Sibson,

Alan Winfield,

Bill Johnston,

Helen Munby

Photography-

James Bell,

Bob Mitchell,

Clive Brooks,

Ken Hopper,

Pat Tetlow

Arts and Crafts-

Richard Davis,

Beryl Green,

Maureen Wenzel,

Julie McCarthy,

Marion Thornton,

Jennifer Myers,

Marjorie Richardson,

Ceinwen Sanderson

About

The Old School Gallery is a tea room with a difference. As well as enjoying a cup of tea and a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and pastries, you can browse a fascinating exhibition of paintings and artworks. These include a collection of paintings by celebrated artist Donald Swan and the "Ships of Destiny" exhibition.

Also of interest is the South Lakeland Lace Makers
'Golden Bobbin' Galleon which won an international English Lace School Award.

The gallery also holds "The Eagle has Landed" exhibition to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings.

Past to Present

Preston Patrick Primary School was built by public subscription from 1775 to serve the local farming community. The SW part of the building, completed by 1780, incorporates ships timbers from Ulverston and Barrow in Furness.

To begin with both boys and girls attended the school taught by the Curate of the Parish. In 1843 a Robert Brockbank was appointed school master. Later the girls moved to a new school in Endmoor. A later headmaster was Walter Jones with Mrs Caton taking the younger class. Preston Patrick School eventually closed in 1949.

Frank and Sue Sanderson purchased the building September 2005 recognizing it as an iconic building of importance to the community, and seeing its potential.

Four to five years of extensive restoration included a new roof of local green slate. It eventually opened as a Gallery and Tea Room in 2009. The Bell Tower will hopefully be replaced in the near future.

The Old School, as everyone affectionately calls it, has a friendly ambience, reflecting the happy times the local children enjoyed.

The singer Frankie Vaughan, having been evacuated from Liverpool during the war, attended the school and his sister went to Endmoor School. He later returned to give a concert to aid a local fundraising event.

Art classes are ongoing, for, as Frank says, "It started life as a place of learning and that is what it deserves to remain."

The permanent exhibition 'Ships of Destiny', features famous historical ships. "The Eagle has Landed" to mark the 40th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing. English Lace School International award winning 'Golden Bobbin' Galleon. Graham Leach miniatures and a range of local arts and crafts & artists exhibit.

The local community have shown great interest in its renovation producing stories and photographs in abundance, with many enjoyable visits.

We hope you enjoy your visit and perhaps try our homemade fare.

Frank and Sue Sanderson