Building Name

St Matthew's Middle Class Schools. Devonshire Street Ardwick

Date
1871
District/Town
Ardwick, Manchester
County/Country
GMCA, England
Work
New Build

The foundation stone of these "better class" schools was laid by the Bishop of Manchester on Saturday 3 December 1870, the proceedings being reported in some detail but with minimal information concerning the architecture. Even this was omitted from the abridged report in the Weekly Supplement to the Courier, published on Saturday 10 December (Page 2 Col 3)

As the name indicates, the new schools are intended for children whose social position is above that of those who usually fill the ordinary parish schools. The building is to be well and handsomely finished within and without. The accommodation is for upwards of 430 children; the boys' school will be on the ground floor and the girls' on the upper floor. The contract has just been taken by Messrs Robinson and the architects are Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor of Manchester. [Manchester Courier Monday 5 December 1870 Page 3, Column 5]

NEW CHURCH SCHOOLS IN ARDWICK – On Saturday afternoon the Bishop of Manchester in the presence of a large crowd of spectators laid the foundation stone of middle class schools about to be erected in Devonshire Street, Ardwick, in connection with the comparatively new parish of St Matthew. …  The building is to be so well and handsomely finished within and without as to possess unusual attractiveness. The accommodation is for over 430 children. There is a basement kitchen etc, and on the ground floor a boys’ schoolroom , 30 feet wide, with classrooms, lavatories, etc; on the upper floor the girls’ schoolroom, the same size as the boys’ and three spacious classrooms. The girls’ entrance is from Devonshire Street and the boys’ from Back Tiverton Street, at the opposite extremity of the building. The site is an admirable one – on the opposite side of Devonshire Street to the church, and at the corner where four streets meet. The schools will be well seen both from the Stockport Road and the two lines of railway. The contract has just been taken by Messrs Robinson. The architects are Messrs Medland and Henry Taylor of Manchester. Between the schools and the Stockport Road is the rectory, which has just been converted from two small houses into one commodious parsonage. [Manchester Guardian 5 December 1870 page 3]

ARDWICK The new St Matthew’s middle-class schools, Ardwick, are completed. They are built of bright red brick, with Yorkshire stone dressings, from plans prepared by Messrs Medland and H Taylor of Manchester. Over the fireplaces in the two school-rooms are panels of a large size, which are to be completed by paintings in oil representing ACaxton in Westminster Abbey,@ and APalissy, the potter.@ The internal doors are panelled with framing. Accommodation is provided for 480 children. Messrs Robinson & Son, of Hyde, were the builders.[Building News 22 December 1871 Page 484]

Reference    Manchester Courier Monday 5 December 1870 Page 3, Column 5
Reference    Manchester Guardian 5 December 1870 page 3
Reference    Building News 22 December 1871 Page 484
Reference    Builder 16 December 1871 Page 993