Barnes Home Heaton Mersey

The school was erected by Robert Barnes Esq., in 1871 for the education and training of neglected and destitute children under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act of 1866.  The school was managed by a committee of 17 persons.  There are also 10 trustees of the charity. Originally intended as a mixed school, it soon became a boys only school after it was certified 14th June,1871 for the reception of 275 boys. An institutional building of superior architecture  it became BARNES HOME APPROVED SCHOOL from 1933 for the reception of 200 boys. An Auxiliary Home for 32 children in Ardwick Green was taken over from another industrial school.

BARNES HOME HEATON MERSEY -The foundation stone has been laid of the new industrial school at Heaton Mersey, to be known as Barnes Home. The school will be carried on in connection with the Ardwick Industrial Schools and will be capable of accommodating 200 children. Mr Robert Barnes, who has long been a friend of the Ardwick Schools has undertaken to bear the whole expense of building and furnishing the new schools and the purchase of the few acres of land adjoining, which will be used for gardening and farm purposes. The total cost will be about £12,000. The new school will be erected on an elevated plot of land on the Bank Hall Estate. It will be in the Gothic style. The total frontage will be 196 feet and the depth 246 feet. The central part of the building will be three stories high, with side wings two stories high, built of brick with stone dressings. The principal feature of the front elevation of the central part of the building is a tower with chamber for reception of a clock having a dial on four sides, surmounted with a slate spire, the total height of which will be 111 feet. The principal entrance will be under the clock tower, leading to a hall, thence to a corridor running right and left the full length of the building. There will be accommodation for 200 boys with resident masters, assistants, servants and residences for the governor and matron. The ground plan contains two school rooms each 40 feet by 24 feet, designed as wings, series of classrooms and masters’ rooms, the chapel and dining hall 60 feet by 35 feet and 23 feet high, at the end of which are the school kitchen, cooking apparatus, bake house and boiler house, situated in the centre of the playground leading to a wide space between the right and left wing for the recreation of the children. The building will be heated by means of steam pipes. At the back of the school premises are the farm buildings. The contractors are Messrs Thomas Clay and Sons of Manchester and Audenshaw; and Mr Henry Pinchbeck of Manchester is the architect under whose direction and supervision the work will be carried out. [Builder 9 July 1870 Page 551]

HEATON MERSEY. A new certified and industrial ragged school, to be known as the Barnes Home, in commemoration of the gift of Mr Robert Barnes, has been formally opened. The new building has been erected and furnished at a cost of £12,000 on an elevated site on the Bank Hall estate at Heaton Mersey, five miles from Manchester, and is in the Gothic style. The total frontage is 196 feet and the depth 242 feet. The central part of the building is three storeys high, of brick, with stone dressings. The principal feature in the front elevation of the central part of the building is a tower, with chamber for the reception of a clock, surmounted with a slated spire, the total height of which is 111feet. The principal entrance is under the tower, and leads to a spacious hall, thence to a corridor running right and left the full length of the building. There will be accommodation for 200 boys, with resident masters, assistants, servants, and residence for the governor and matron. At the back of the school premises are the farm buildings. The architect is Mr H. Pinchbeck, and the whole of the works have been satisfactorily performed by Messrs Thomas Clay & Sons, of Manchester.[Building News 18 August 1871 Page 127]

Reference    Manchester Courier 30 June Page 6
Reference    Manchester Courier Weekly Supplement Saturday 2 July 1870 Page 2 extensive notes
Reference    Builder 9 July 1870 Page 551
Reference    Builder 17 September 1870 Page 765-767 - plan perspective and notes
Reference    Building News 18 August 1871 Page 127
Reference    Builder 1871 page 767 and plan