This area of grassed land used to be the site of Paddock House Girls Grammar School from when it was built to its demolition. Im not sure of the exact years but I think it was built just after WW2 and demolished either late 1990s or early 2000's. It had about 350 pupils from age 11-16 and a sixth form for about 60. There is aso now an area closed off to preserve natural wildlife that used to be a wooded area part of the schools grounds. The school was a direct grant grammar school and was run by the Sisters of Mercy who lived in the old convent at the opposite side of the grounds which is also now demolished and this part of the grounds now has had residential dwellings built there. At the side of the convent there was an old wooden building that was a private primary school. I know very little about this. In 1976 the school amalgamated with Holy Family secondary school to become Mount Carmel mixed comprehensive and admitting boys for the first time in the schools history. As a grammar school it had a highly reputable reputation as a top educational establishment with entry only obtained by passing the 11+ exam and its pupils were almost all from catholic primary schools. The staff were a mix of nuns and non-nuns both male and female. I attended the school from 1970 to 1976 and a few years ago I visited the place and was sadly surprised that it no longer existed.
