EXCITED Branscombe pupils were presented with original architectural plans of their primary school last week.

EXCITED Branscombe pupils were presented with original architectural plans of their primary school last week.

After spending nearly three decades in a loft, the drawings were finally unearthed by Jan Devereese last month who decided to return them to the school.

Dating back to 1873, the six plans had been rescued by Jan's partner, Dave Trotter, who found them in a skip when he was working on the renovation of Branscombe's old rectory in the 1980s.

He took the plans to his Feniton home and they were stored away in the loft until Jan rediscovered them when she was looking for some pictures.

Jan, who works for the Herald as an editorial assistant, met up with acting head teacher, Neil Swait, and the pupils to present the plans and talk about their significance.

She said: "It was exhilarating to think the plans are back where they belong instead of stuffed in a box in my loft.

"Mr Swait and the pupils were very welcoming and it was very interesting comparing the plans to the actual school building.

"The children were very receptive and intrigued by how different the school is now."

Mr Swait said: "It was great to meet Jan and discuss this amazing find in person. We are very grateful to have these historic documents returned to the school and we look forward to sharing them with parents and the wider community in the near future.

"The children were totally enthralled by the drawings and entered into a lively debate about how the school had changed and what features had remained intact.

"They were particularly intrigued by the well that once existed on our site and by the fact that the boys and girls had separate playgrounds.

"The documents have been received with great interest and enthusiasm by the children and will lead them on to some of their own research into the history of Branscombe C of E Primary.