High School for Girls, Blackburn

"Spring Mount," the original house on the site was built for Dr James Barlow who practised in the town from 1797 to 1839. He left the house to his adopted son, James Barlow Stewardson Sturdy, (Mayor of Blackburn 1862-1863). In 1883 Sturdy's daughters sold it to James Hargreaves and Thomas Mitchell Eccles, the founders of the Girls High School and the school opened in September of that year with 23 pupils. Such was the demand that within ten years proposals for substantial enlargement had been prepared. The scheme by Stones and Gradwell as illustrated in the American Architect of 6 June 1891 proposed a new school building with central tower and classroom blocks on each side. However, this was only partially implemented; the original house was retained and one classroom wing built. Nonetheless pupil numbers had increased to 150 by 1893.  Blackburn Girls High School moved to Witton Park in 1961 following which the buildings on Preston New Road were used by Blakey Moor Girls' School, and Chorley Training College. These were demolished in March 2001 and flats built on the site

TO CONTRACTORS - Builders desirous of TENDERING for the ERECTION of proposed NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS in Preston New Road, Blackburn, for the Blackburn Girls' High School Limited, are requested to send in their names to the undersigned not later than Wednesday the 11th of February next. STONES & GRADWELL. Architects, 10, Richmond Terrace, Blackburn. [Manchester Guardian 3 February 1891 page 1]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 February 1891 page 1
Reference    American Architect and Building News, June 6, 1891.