A BOARDED-UP Victorian schoolroom has become a grade two listed building . . . thanks to the efforts of a former pupil.

Bill Knowles, of Old Quarry Lane, Bromley Cross, was at the former Eagley Mills' School during the 1930s.

But he was worried that it could be demolished because of its dilapidated state and decided he would take steps to protect it.

He wrote to the Department of National Heritage and the stone building has now been judged to be "of special architectural or historic interest."

Mr Knowles said: "I am very pleased that this has been accepted. At least it means that it will not now be demolished.

"There have been plans in over the years for things like a restaurant, but nothing has ever come of this.

"But at least this now means that no one can stick a big concrete extension on it."

Ideally, Mr Knowles would like to see it revived as a tourist attraction of a Victorian school room and be linked to the nearby Eagley mills, along the lines of Quarry Bank Mill at Styal or Wigan Pier.

The school on School Street, Eagley, was built in 1851.

It still has a huge air raid shelter beneath its high level playground.

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