Dolní Újezd pupils acquired their first adequate educational premises at the beginning of the 1870s with the construction of a new school building together with flats for a headmaster and two teachers. However, the increasing number of pupils meant that all the flats had to be gradually converted into classrooms. Eventually, a new school building was constructed and equipped with adequate amenities.
This artwork was executed by the Prague sculptor Josef Jílek, a pupil of Stanislav Sucharda. This type of cooperation with Sucharda's pupils was typical of Václav Šilhavý's buildings. It adds a certain air of dignity and, for its time, a more modern (Secessionist) tone to his conservative buildings. This trend is also evident in his other designs, for example the secondary school of the same period in Osík or the Lidový Dům (People's Centre) and Langmajer Villa in Litomyšl from between the world wars (06-392, 04-597). In addition to the above-mentioned relief work, Jílek was also responsible for other ornamental features on the school's facade, for example the capitals at the main entrance or the voussoirs with the decorative heads of women above the windo2ws.
The building incorporated seven classrooms, a workroom for practical lessons, teachers' offices, a staffroom, and headmaster's office, but also a library and a gym hall with an exercise yard in the school garden. The building initially served as a primary school, from 1920 it was also a secondary school and, twenty years later, became the local secondary school.
Between 1977 and 1990, the school was substantially expanded with the addition of a new pavilion to the west of the historical school building. However, the Neo-renaissance building was untouched and, today, still retains a wide range of authentic, prized details – for example its mosaic flooring, metal fittings, panelling in the corridors, etc.
AW
