Southall Street Board School, Strangeways (School No 8)

MANCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD. A special meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday, Mr. H. Birley presiding, to receive the recommendations of the sites committee as to the South Hall-street and the Mulberry-street schools competitive designs.-  The CHAIRMAN said that plans had been sent in by  three architects for the proposed new schools, and these plans had been submitted, first, to the general purposes committee, and secondly, to the sites committee; and both of these committees had decided upon the same plans by a considerable majority - It was then unanimously resolved that the plan sent on by Mr. Lord for the Mulberry-street school should be accepted, and also that of  Messrs. Royle and Bennett for the South Hall-street School. It was also resolved that the first premium of  £30 for the second best plans for the Mulberry-street school should be awarded to Messrs, Medland and Henry Taylor; and the second premium of £20 in respect to the same school to Messrs. Royle and Bennett. The first premium of £30 in respect to plans for the South Hall-street schools was awarded to Messrs Medland and H. Taylor; and the second of £20 to Mr. Lord. [Manchester Times 11 August 1877 page 7]

MANCHESTER BOARD SCHOOLS – Today Mr Joseph Phythian will lay the memorial stone of a new Board School in South Hall Street, Cheetham. This will make the eighth school erected by the City of Manchester School Board since its formation, the others being in Vine Street, Every Street, Chester Street, Armitage Street, Lloyd Street, Burgess Street and Abbot Street. They afford accommodation for 5,520 scholars, whilst twenty-three other buildings which have passed into the hands of the Board have room for 9,173 children. Other new schools are projected in Bank Meadow, Ardwick; Library Street, Hulme; and Ducie Avenue, Chorlton-on-Medlock.

The new school in South Hall Street, with which considerable progress has already been made, is designed to accommodate 1,038 children – 300 infants, 209 junior scholars, 264 boys and 265 girls. It is situated on the corner of South Hall Street and Lord Street, the site being an admirable one as regards to both area (which measures 3,960 square yards) and position. The building will be Gothic in style. The principal façade, facing Lord Street, measures 66 yards in length, and the design is pleasing and effective, a striking central feature being the bell turret, rising 30 feet above the ride. In the South Hall Street front is a tower measuring from the ground line to the eaves 48 feet and terminating with wrought iron cresting and finials, the total height from the ground being 70 feet. The walls externally are faced with picked common brick. The arches and moulded corbelling and projecting windows are in stock bricks, whilst the windows generally are finished with stone jams, mullions and transoms. The round floor is arranged for infants and juniors with entrances from Lord Street; the upper floor is devoted to boys and girls, each department having its own entrance, and comprises large schoolrooms, classrooms and cloakrooms. The finishes internally will be plain and thoroughly substantial, and suitable for school purposes. Special attention will be paid to lighting, warming and ventilating. There are three large playgrounds attached to the school. The contract for erecting the building, including the boundary wall and playgrounds, but exclusive of the foundations, furniture, and fittings, amounts to £7,760. The work is being carried out by Mr William Southern, of Salford, from designs and under the superintendence of Messrs Royle and Bennett, Cooper Street, Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 30 April 1879 page 5]

The ceremony was attended by the Chairman, Mr Hugh Birley, and several members of the School Board. About 1,000 children attending the Park Street, Salem, and Dutton Street Board Schools, and who, when it is completed, will form the scholars of the South Hall School were also present, standing upon the open space fronting the school. [Manchester Guardian 1 May 1879 page 6]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 30 April 1879 page 5
Reference    Manchester Guardian 1 May 1879 page 6 – foundation stone ceremonies
Reference    The Builder 1879: 555.
Reference    Samantha Barnes Manchester Board Schools 1870-1902, page 64