Altrincham County High School for Girls, Bowdon Lodge, Altrincham

ALTRINCHAM COUNTY SCHOOL OPENED. - The new Cheshire High School for Girls at Altrincham, which is to begin its work in September. was formally opened yesterday by his Honour Judge J. K. Bradbury, the chairman of the Board of Governors. The building of the school is part of the declared policy of the Cheshire Education Committee to put a good school within the reach of every child in the county. The school itself stands on the highest, part of Bowdon Downs, and joins to this advantage those of a specious, wooded, and open site. It has been designed with a successful effect to fit into its surroundings, and it is at the same time an excellent piece of technical architecture. The total accommodation is now for 186 children, 36 of whom will be taken into the preparatory department, but it will admit of expansion to another 50 or 60 in the future. The formal ceremony of the presentation of key by Mr J Cubbon, the architect, and the unlocking of the door by Judge Bradbury. [Manchester Guardian 5 July 1910 page 7].

COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, BOWDON. MONDAY'S OPENING CEREMONY. THE NEW BUILDINGS DESCRIBED. An event of unusual importance in the educational life of Altrincham and district took place on Monday afternoon, when the ceremony of formally opening the new County High School for Girls on Bowdon Lodge site was performed by his Honour Judge J. K. Bradbury, M.A.. chairman of the Altrincham Education Committee, and of the Board of Governors. With the provision of the new school the district becomes possessed of facilities for carrying on secondary education and of co-ordinating the elementary with the higher grades of instruction, so making it possible for any child to proceed almost directly from the local schools to the university.

The High School stands on the summit of the Higher Downs, which is considered to be the healthiest district of Bowdon. The site is considerably over two acres in area and is well wooded, but open to the full benefit of sunshine. The buildings have been so arranged and designed that the main portion faces the south-west, thus ensuring that all classrooms and rooms used by the scholars shall derive full advantage from sunlight and air. Viewed from the road the school, is of imposing and dignified appearance. The external treatment is such that it harmonises with its ideal surroundings. The walls are faced with local grey bricks in narrow courses, relieved by dark grey, vitrified, glazed terra-cotta of Doulton's manufacture. In the centre of the main frontage is placed the public entrance, through which access is obtained to the reception hall. The library and committee room, head mistress's room and waiting room are entered from the reception hall, and a triple arcade leads to the large assembly hall, where seating accommodation can be arranged for over 200 scholars. On the southerly side of the school a good preparatory department is arranged. This department consists of two very bright and sunny classrooms separated by a movable screen, so that one large room can be arranged when necessary. There are six classrooms provided for the older scholars. These classrooms all communicate with the assembly hall or the gallery to hall. and the rooms are of various eases to suit the requirements of the different classes. In addition to the general classrooms. special rooms are provided for teaching specialist subjects. A large laboratory and lecture-room is provided for the study of chemistry and physics. An art room, with magnificent north light, is arranged for advanced art. A music room is arranged in an isolated position for teaching singing and other purposes, and special practice-rooms are adjacent. There is also a large room specially designed for instruction in cookery. In order to provide for the comfort of scholars who have to come from a distance a comfortable dining room, with a kitchen adjoining. has been erected, so that mid-day meals may be served to those who wish for them. Ample arrangements have been made for cloakroom and changing accommodation, and drying chambers have been provided for wet clothing. The cloakrooms and entrances for senior and junior scholars are kept quite distinct. Adjoining the main entrance buildings there is a good gymnasium with dressing-room, shower baths and spectators' gallery. The whole of the school is fitted up with the most modern and approved fittings and furniture, and special attention has been paid to the sanitary appointments. The buildings throughout are lighted by electricity and warmed by low pressure , hot-water apparatus. assisted by large open fires in all rooms used for teaching purposes. The thorough ventilation of the buildings has also received special attention. The construction of the building is fireproof throughout and special protection against fire is also provided by patent fire appliances, in the use of which the scholars are regularly drilled. The internal finish of the buildings is hygienic in every way: the floors are mainly polished pitch-pine woad blocks and Euboreolith patent flooring. The walls have a high dado of “old gold" glazed bricks and all the woodwork is selected pitch-pine. toned and varnished. The reception hall and assembly hall are enriched by well-designed, modelled plaster work.

For outdone recreation there are two paved playgrounds, one for junior and the other for senior scholars: in connection with each of these there are covered portions for use during inclement weather. There are also lawns of old matured turf. for lawn tennis or other games. A large playing field is situated on the easterly side of the site, where hockey and other games can be played and a terrace walk raised above the field gives the scholars an excellent view of the field. The site is surrounded by shrubbery and forest tree borders and every opportunity is provided for nature study and botany. There is also a large greenhouse on the site which materially adds to the value of the instruction given.

At present the school is intended to provide accommodation for 186 scholars, or 150 girls in the general department and 36 in the preparatory. Should the future demand it, the accommodation could be immediately extended by 50 or 60 places. The school has been built from plans prepared by Messrs. Sankey and Cubbon, architects, Manchester. Metiers. Gerrard and Sons, Swinton, were the contractors and Mr. R. W. Frier has acted as clerk of works. [Runcorn Guardian - Tuesday 5 July 1910 page 8]

Reference    Builder 16 January 1909 Page 72 - contracts
Reference    Builder 27 March 1909 Page 390 - tenders
Reference    British Architect 2 April 1909 Page ix – tenders
Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 October 1909 page 4 – contract for electric lighting
Reference    Manchester Guardian 5 July 1910 page 7 – opening
Reference    British Architect 15 July 1910 Page 35 - opening of school.
Reference    Runcorn Guardian - Tuesday 5 July 1910 page 8