The first phase of work to restore and save one of Bermuda’s oldest school buildings has begun.

Moonray Manor dates back to the 1840s and had fallen into disrepair over the last two decades.

But trustees of the Moonray Manor Trust, David Saul and Frank Mutch, were recently given planning permission to save the old school structure while constructing a two-bedroom cottage on the waterfront property.

And for the last few weeks crews have been on site clearing the area around the crumbling property and preparing it for construction work.

The progress has been welcomed by the Bermuda National Trust, which feared that the old ‘Lane School’ — a Grade III listed building — would deteriorate beyond repair.

Mr Mutch told The Royal Gazette: “It’s great to see that the work has actually begun.

“This is the initial phase of the project and we are hopeful that it will be completed before the end of the year or early 2015.

“We are extremely grateful to the Fidelity Foundation for funding this project and in so doing by incorporating the walls of the old school we are saving a historically significant structure.

“Our intent is to get an annual rent from the cottage that will then be distributed to the various local charitable entities in accordance with the purposes of the Moonray Manor Trust.”

Developers intend to install a plaque on the building to recognise its historical importance.

Moonray Manor on East Broadway was built as the ‘Lane School’, which was one of the first two schools established for black children following Emancipation in 1834.

The foundation stone was laid on January 1, 1836, and it opened later that year.

It is recorded that by 1848, more than 600 children had been educated there.

Jennifer Gray, executive director of the Bermuda National Trust, said: “The Bermuda National Trust reviewed the planning application and is pleased that the old school house section of the building will be saved. For a long time the Trust feared that it would one day deteriorate beyond repair.

“Previous changes and additions to the old building were not sympathetic and we are glad that some of these are being removed while the original features are being repaired.

“But we have expressed to the owner our concern about the impact of proposed floor-level French windows/doors which would detract from the old section’s identifiableness as a Bishop Spencer School.”

The recent work on the Moonray Manor property has prompted fresh calls to save a second Bishop Spencer school in Warwick.

Ms Gray added: “On the matter of Bishop Spencer Schools the National Trust would like to draw attention again to another surviving early school house in Warwick. This is the little building used as a storehouse opposite the former White’s Supermarket.

“It is the best surviving example of what are known as the Bishop Spencer schools. These were erected in Bermuda immediately following emancipation by the Anglican Church for the education of black children.

“It continued to be used as a school up until at least the 1950s and is very dear to the hearts of many Bermudians.

“It is listed as a Grade I building which recognises that it has survived in essentially its original condition.

It is a typical one-roomed schoolhouse of the period and is in need of some preventive maintenance.

“The Trust would be willing to help the new owners if we can and hope that its heritage value is kept in mind when assessing future options for this historic Bermuda landmark.”