Industrial School for Boys, Offerton Lane, (now Marple Road),Stockport

TO BUILDERS - The Committee of the Stockport Certified Industrial School for Boys invite tenders for the Erection and Completion of Proposed new Industrial School Buildings at Offerton Lane, Stockport. Drawings can be seen and quantities obtained at the office of the architect, Mr T H Allen, 39 St Petersgate, Stockport, on or after the 23rd instant on payment of two guineas, which will be returned on receipt of a bona-fide tender. Tenders to be delivered to the architect’s office not later than 5 January 1897. The Committee do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender. . [Manchester Guardian 19 December 1896 page 4]

The new boys' industrial school, on the eastern outskirts of Stockport, was officially opened on 17 November 1898, by George Whiteley, MP for Stockport. The building stood on a five-acre site and, including furnishing, had cost approximately £10,000. The establishment had received its certification as an Industrial School on August 16th, 1898, with places tor 160 boys, aged 9 to 12 at their date of admission. The new building immediately came under criticism from the School's inspector who suggested that its large and 'desolate' dormitories were an obstacle to classification and out of step with what was now the general practice. Improvements to the ventilation in the building were also said to be needed. Industrial training included technical drawing, joinery and baking, while the shoemaking department included work for private customers. Free gymnastics and musical drill with barbells were conducted by the schoolmasters. Additional building work in 1903-4 provided a new sick-room, schoolmasters' and officers' rooms, stores, accommodation for female staff, and an enlargement of the dining hall and the dormitory above. The school closed in January 1956 and the buildings subsequently demolished.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 December 1896 page 4 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 18 November 1898 page 7 - opening