Clarence Street Higher Grade Board Schools, Bolton
HIGHER GRADE BOARD SCHOOLS AT BOLTON - On the 9th inst., on the resumption of term after the Christmas holidays, a large higher-grade Board school, which has just been erected at Bolton, was opened for the reception of children who have passed the third standard. In addition to branches of ordinary elementary education, the school is intended to be used for experimental demonstrations in science, having a laboratory with accommodation for a large number of students. The style of architecture adopted is that known as “Queen Anne.” The building, which is three stories in height, has a main frontage of 104 feet, and occupies an area of upwards of 4,000 feet, in addition to the play and recreation grounds. It is faced with local red pressed brick, Ruabon terra cotta being used for the moulded and ornamental work, and Yorkshire stone for window sills, heads, and strings, whilst the principal entrance, doorways, and other portions of the frontages, have been enriched with carved stone and brickwork. The floors are of iron and concrete, overlaid with teak boarding. The staircases have Hawksley’s patent treads. Internally the building is arranged on the class room principle. Three of these class-rooms are on the ground-floor, and three others on the second-floor, whilst on the upper floor is another large class-room, together with a lecture-hall capable of seating 100 students, and intended also to be used for experimental demonstrations in science. Immediately adjoining is the laboratory, with accommodation for forty-eight students working at the same time. The schools have been erected from the designs of Mr. Jonathan Simpson, architect, of Bolton, Messrs. J. H. and G. Marsden, of Bolton, being the builders. Mr. D. Walsh has acted as clerk of works. [Builder 21 January 1888 page 54]
Reference Builder 21 January 1888 page 54
Reference Bolton Building Control records (information David French)
No. 10914; date, 1887/01/06. New school, Clarence Street; architect, J Simpson