Metal thieves attack historic sites

Thefts of metal in the area have caused damage and upset in the community.

The historic Pye Bank School was damaged in September as thieves demolished part of the playground wall around the school. Several stone blocks were smashed down so that the original cast-iron fencing could be broken off and removed.

Although only a relatively small quantity of the ironwork was taken away, the damage was extensive.

Pye Bank School is one of the original Sheffield Schools Board educational establishments, dating from 1875, a time when Sheffield was well ahead of its time in its drive to educate children from ordinary backgrounds. It served as a nursery infant school until 2004 when falling pupil numbers led to it being merged with the current Pye Bank School on the other part of Andover St.

Under the Burngreave masterplan for housing, the school was to be sold off for redevelopment as flats with the rest of the Woodside estate. When that scheme fell through, it has remained empty. Earlier in 2011, some essential repairs were carried out to the roof.

The pavement has now been cleared but the temporary repair means the original stone blocks have been removed and replaced with metal fences.

As well as the old school, metal thieves have also targeted the Abbeyfield bowling green. This popular club has now lost its benches, which cost about £1000 each and are well-used when matches are on.

If anyone has information about the damage at Pye Bank School, the police incident number is 397 of 25th September.