Congregational Schools: Great Horton

GREAT HORTON - The memorial stone of new congregational schools has been laid here. Messrs. Paull and Robinson, of Manchester, are the architects. The area to be covered is about 550 superficial yards, and the dimensions of the buildings will be about 120 ft. by 41 ft., the height from the floor of the lower story to the roof ridge being 52 feet. The structure will be three stories in height on the north-east side, but only two at the front and on the side facing the chapel. A feature of the design is a tower, 80 feet high to the top of the vane. Internally, on the ground floor, there will be an assembly room, 65 ft. by 38 ft., and 16 ft. high, capable of seating 600 adults, and adapted for concerts, public meetings, lectures, etc.; and in the rear a lecture-room, 36 ft. by 26 ft., to seat 230 adults, of the same height as the assembly-room. Above will be the class-rooms, sixteen in number, averaging 180 superficial feet, and 12 ft. high, and a room for the superintendent. The principle of separate class-rooms has been chosen in view of the results which have attended the adoption of that system elsewhere. On the lower ground floor, and underneath the lecture room, will be a class-room, 25 ft. by 20 ft., and 14 ft. high, containing a raised gallery for infants, while on the same level are two classrooms for adults, specially arranged, with fireplaces, etc., for week evening purposes, but available for the Sunday school. Externally the building will have dressed wall-stones in regular course, and the architectural features will be of hewn or ashlar stone. The works have been let by contract for £3,000, in addition to which £150 to £200 will be required for warming apparatus. Add to this the architects’ commission, furnishing, etc., and over £5,000 will be needed to complete the undertaking. [Builder 20 June 1868 page 457-458]

NEW CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS AT GREAT HORTON - A new Congregational school has been opened at Great Horton. It has been erected by Messrs Booth, Illingworth, and Sons, of Bradford, from the designs of Messrs Paull and Robinson, of Manchester. Upwards of £2,000 has been raised towards the cost of these schools, but a considerable sum is still required to free them from debt. [Building News 5 March 1869 page 213]

GREAT HORTON - New Congregational Schools have been opened here. They were designed by Messrs Paull and Robinson of Manchester, architects, and have been erected at a cost of nearly £6,000, the site on which they stand being rendered expensive on account of a public house and other buildings which occupied it. The building consists of a large assembly room, above which is a suite of small classrooms. The ground floor, underneath the assembly-room is occupied by infants’ classrooms and the various offices connected with the buildings. The rooms are ventilated and warmed. [Builder 19 June 1869 page 491]

OPENING OF NEW CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOLS AT GREAT HORTON. On Saturday the opening services in connection with b the Great Horton Congregational Schools, recently erected on a site near the chapel, which was formerly occupied by the Fleece Inn, were brought to a close. The memorial stone was laid on Whit-Tuesday 1868 by Mr. Edward Baines M.P. The schools were designed  by Messrs. Paull and Robinson, architects, of Manchester, and have been erected at a cost of nearly £6000, the site on which they stand being rendered expensive on account of the public-house and other buildings which occupied it. The style of the buildings has been before described in this journal, but we may state that they consist of a large assembly-room, above which is a suite of small class-rooms. The ground-floor, underneath the assembly-room, is occupied by infants' class-rooms, and the various offices connected with the buildings. The rooms are well ventilated and warmed; they are light and commodious, and the sittings and general arrangements are of a superior character. [Bradford Observer 6 May 1869 page 12]

Reference        Bradford Observer 19 December 1867 page 1 – contracts
Reference        Builder 20 June 1868 page 457-458
Reference        Builder 20 March 1869 Page 232 Column 1 + notes
Reference        Building News March 5 1869 page 213
Reference        Builder 19 June 1869 page 491 – opening
Reference        Bradford Observer 6 May 1869 page 12