Stockport Grammar School, Buxton Road, Davenport, Stockport (II)

Stockport Grammar School opened in 1916 to replace an older building Stockport town centre, (qv) . The foundation stone was laid on 4 April 1914 for the new Grammar School buildings on the Bramhall Lodge estate at Mile End, then owned by Mr. Alfred Bell, a member of a well-known local brewing family. The move to Buxton Road took place at Christmas 1915, with a formal opening by Colonel George Dixon, Chairman of Cheshire County Council, on Saturday 29 January 1916. The new buildings were designed for 250 pupils with ten classrooms grouped in a two-storey block on one side of a quadrangle; on another was the hall, named after one of the main benefactors of the build, the Ephraim Hallam Trust.

NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS AT STOCKPORT - The foundation-stone of the new buildings of the Stockport Grammar School at Davenport was laid on Saturday by Mr W B. Hodgkinson, the chairman of the Ephraim Hallam Trust, which made a gift of £20,000 towards the undertaking. The new school which will accommodate 250 scholars, stands on a site of eleven acres, the playing-fields adjoining the school buildings. [Manchester Guardian 6 April 1914 page 10]

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL, THE NEW BUILDINGS OPENED - In adapting the Tudor style to modern requirements the architects- Messrs. R. H. Spalding and E. G. Theakston, of London—have endeavoured to preserve the traditions of a school which boasts of a foundation dating as far back as 1487. Apparently, there are only two older ones—Winchester, which was founded in 1387 and Eton. founded in 1441. The school is built of Loughborough bricks in several colours and of Ancaster stone, and an attractive feature or interior is that the lower part of all of the walls is covered with panelling of oak or of Oregon pine. The general plan is that of the quadrangle. with the classrooms on the south-east where they will get the best light, and the art and science block on the north. The gymnasium is isolated in order that noise may not reach the teaching rooms, and it is hoped that eventually a swimming bath will be added to it. Other features include a large, handsome assembly hall. Bearing the name of the late Mr. Ephraim Hallam, a mayor the borough. through whose generosity the governors were enabled to have the new buildings erected, common rooms for masters and boys. and a dining-hall. The total cost of the buildings and of the playing fields around them, covering ten acres, is stated to have been £37,000. [Manchester Guardian 31 January 1916 page 3]

THE NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL, STOCKPORT - The ancient character of the school—its antiquity is only exceeded by two foundations in the kingdom: Winchester founded in 1387 and Eton in 1441—is thoroughly typified in the new buildings -which are of the collegiate type. the architecture being of the Tudor period. No better site could have been chosen in the Borough. From the north and east, it. is sheltered by the Buxton Road, and from the south the breezes come from the Derbyshire and Cheshire Highlands. In the front of the school is a broad playing-field. In addition, there are four fives courts. The school is approached from the Buxton Road by a private road, along which is an avenue of trees. The main entrance to the building has over it four sculptured panels representing the history of the school from the date of its foundation in 1487. The first panel represents Sir Edmund Shaa, with the figures of a priest on one side and scholars on the other, and it bears the following inscription: "Sir Edmund Shaa, Knight, Lord Mayor of London, a native of Stockport. He of his bounty provided this school AD. 1487." The second panel represents Alexander Lowe in the act of making his will and bequeathing his house for the purposes of the school. The inscription reads: Alexander Lowe, mercer, Stockport, bequeathed his house and certain monies to this foundation. A.D. 1587." The third panel represents John Brogden laying the foundation stone of the school in Wellington Road South, September 8, 1830"; and the fourth panel shows Ephraim Hallam distributing the prizes to the scholars, the inscription being: "Ephraim Hallam, Mayor of Stockport 1860. By his bequest the Governors were enabled to erect this school 1915." These panels were designed by Mr. S. Nicholson Babb, R.B.S., of Baron's Court. In the matter of equipment, the school is second to none of its class in the kingdom. The class-rooms and administrative rooms are arranged round a central quadrangle, one side of which is formed by a spacious assembly room named after Ephraim Hallam, Mayor of Stockport

Accommodation is provided for 250 scholars, and includes every requirement for a modern grammar school. On the ground floor there are five classrooms, each accommodating twenty-four students, and on the first floor five classrooms accommodating the same number. There are also two division rooms, each accommodating fifteen students, and these rooms will be used for special classes for advanced studies. The science and art departments are arranged on the first floor, entirely separated from the other rooms. The science department comprises two laboratories, preparation and balance rooms for advanced science, and a lecture-room. There is also a well-equipped department for manual training. A large studio, lighted from the north, is provided for art students. On the ground floor provision is made for a large dining-room for the use of dinner boys, with service kitchens adjoining. The headmaster's room is placed near to the platform of the great hall and the governors' room. The library is in a quiet position, and common rooms for the use of the masters and dinner boys are provided. Thirteen years ago there were only 90 boys in the school. Now there are 216. The contractors are Messrs D Eadie and Company Limited, of Stockport, and the architects Messrs R H Spalding and E G Theakston F/FRIBA of New Court, Lincoln's Inn Fields. We give the plans today, besides the entrance front and interior of the hall. Further views will begiven at an early date, with some of the working details [Building News February 1917 page 194]

Illustration Stockport Grammar School. The Great Hall from the quadrangle, and entrance corridor or cloister.[Building News 21 March 1917 page 260]

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Plans and views, with particulars, of this large and important block of buildings, lately finished for the historic Grammar School at Stockport, will be found illustrated in our issue of February 28 and March 21. To-day we publish a double page of working details of the visitors' main entrance facing the playing fields and the tower to the west facade, which marks the pupils' entrance leading to the cloisters and assembly court, of which photographs have already appeared. Messrs. R. H. Spalding and E. G. Theakston, F/FRIBA. of Lincoln's Inn, are the architects. [Building News 2 May 1917 page 389

Reference        Manchester Guardian 6 April 1914 page 10
Reference        Manchester Guardian 31 January 1916 page 3
Reference        Building News 28 February 1917 page 194 and illustrations
Reference        Building News 21 March 1917 page 260 and illustrations
Reference        Building News May 1917 page 389 and illustrations