Secondary School. Westminster Street Bury

BURY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL: STOCKPORT ARCHITECT APPOINTED. The Bury Education Committee had before them last night the report of the assessor, Mr John W Simpson, vice president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, on the competitive designs fir the new municipal secondary school. Mr Simpson examined 141 designs, and awarded premiums to the following: 1 Mr J Theo Halliday, Stockport; 2 Messrs Castle and Warren, London; and 3 Messrs Appleyard and Quiggin, Liverpool. In commenting on the competition Mr Simpson wrote: “It is to be regretted that many competitors have not given sufficient attention to the very clear conditions and instructions  furnished and to the regulations of the Board of Education, which were also furnished. The somewhat peculiar nature of the site, the difficulties in obtaining fall for the drainage system, and the important questions of aspect and cost have compelled me in several cases to set aside designs which are in many respects meritorious.” The committee awarded the premiums as recommended and decided to adopt Mr Halliday’s plans and designs. [Manchester Guardian 5 January 1909 page 4]

SECONDARY SCHOOL, BURY, LANCS. SELECTED DESIGN - Mr J Theo. Halliday ARIBA, of Manchester, is the architect of this design, which won the first premium in the recent competition for a secondary school at Bury. The main building; placed to the west of the site, is set back from Westminster‑street, the asphalted  playgrounds  and garden‑court occupying the space between the school building and the street. The girls= entrance is immediately‑ opposite Parliament‑street, the boys' entrances is opposite Southbank‑road, and the public entrance between the two.  The girls' and boys' entrance‑halls, cloakrooms, and staircases are placed respectively at the north and south ends of the building, screened and separated from the rest of the school, the through ventilation of the entrance‑halls preventing any smell from wet garments, penetrating the school. The cloakrooms are separated: from the entrance‑halls by glazed, screens and Bostwick collapsible gates, thus admitting of a free circulation of air. Adjoining the rear entrances are the bicycle‑houses and latrines, all approached from open lobbies, thus insuring the proper isolation. The main public‑entrance from Westminster‑street gives immediate access to the assembly‑hall; the headmaster's room, close at hand, is conveniently arranged for speech‑days and interviews. The hall and classrooms are compactly arranged, and provide efficient supervision of the school by the headmaster. Eleven of the thirteen classrooms are on the ground floor, of which seven are entered directly from the hall, the remainder from the short corridors adjoining the hall. The classrooms have the best possible aspect, and nine of them have their main windows to the south or to the east. The science department (laboratories, lecture‑rooms, balance, and preparation‑rooms, and store) are grouped together on the first floor. The lecture‑room is approached from the assembly‑hall, the laboratories from the corridors only, so precluding the possibility of any fumes entering the hall or the neighbourhood of the class‑rooms. The cookery‑room is on the first floor, over the girls' cloakroom, and adjoining the staircase. It is entered from the cross‑ventilated landing at the head of the stairs. The art‑room occupies the corresponding position at the north end of the school, facing north. The senior mistress=s room adjoins the main entrance, and is provided with separate lavatory and w.c. accommodation. The assistant teachers' common‑rooms are on the first floor, close to the head of the girls' and boys' staircases respectively. They have bay‑windows over‑looking the playing‑fields. Separate lavatory and w.c. accommodation for the teachers is provided. It is proposed to heat the building by the low‑pressure hot‑water system. Elevations are of a plain character of red facing bricks and plain Runcorn stone dressings. The roofs are covered with green Westmorland slates, the flat roofs with asphalte. The building is of brick, with fireproof concrete floors, the hall, classrooms, and smaller rooms being finished with wood blocks. The cost of the building has, been carefully estimated, and is based on the cubical contents. The estimate for the total cost is £12,500 complete. [Building News 5 March 1909 Page 359]

Reference    Building News 8 January 1909 Page 64
Reference    Builder 16 January 1909 Page 65
Reference    British Architect 8 January 1909 Page 22
Reference    Manchester Guardian 5 January 1909 page 4
Reference    Building News 5 March 1909 Page 359
Reference    Building News 9 July 1909 Page 67
Reference    British Architect 18 June 1909 pviii - contracts