Building Name

Sunday Schools Highfield Congregational Chapel Huddersfield

Date
1862
District/Town
Huddersfield
County/Country
Yorkshire, England
Work
New build
Status
First premium

SUNDAY SCHOOLS HUDDERSFIELD - The designs of Messrs Paull and Ayliffe of Manchester, submitted in a limited competition for the new Sunday Schools in connection with Highfield Congregational Chapel, Huddersfield, have been selected by the committee and will be forthwith executed under the architects’ superintendence. [Builder 18 October 1862 Page 753]

TO BUILDERS, Masons, Carpenters, Joiners, Plasterers, Plumbers, Glaziers, Painters, Slaters, and others RE-ERECTION and ENLARGEMENT of the HIGHFIELD SUNDAY SCHOOLS, Drawings and specifications may be seen by such persons as are desirous of Tendering for the same, in the Boys' School- room, at Highfield, from Monday, the 16th, to Monday, the 23rd February inclusive. Bills of quantities may he obtained by applying immediately per post to the Architects.  Sealed tenders are to be delivered before four o'clock on Thursday, the 26th instant, to Mr Henry Shaw, Jun., Secretary, Britannia Buildings, Huddersfield. The lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted, nor any allowance paid for estimates. PAULL & AYLIFFE, Architects, India Buildings Cross Street. Manchester. [Leeds Mercury 14 February 1863 page 7]

HIGHFIELD - For the re-erection and enlargement of the Highfield Sunday Schools. Drawings and specifications may be seen in the boys' school room, at Highfield, to Monday, the 23rd of' February. Bills of quantities may be obtained by applying immediately per post to the architects. Tenders to be delivered before 4 o'clock on Thursday, the 26th inst., to Mr. Henry Shaw. jun., secretary, Britannia Buildings, Huddersfield. Messrs Paull and Ayliffe, of India-buildings, Manchester, are the architects. Building News 20 February 1863 page 155]

Yesterday the foundation stone of new schools in connection with the Highfield Independent Chapel was laid at Highfield, in close proximity to the present building. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Thomas Haigh, of Luther-place, Halifax-road. …. The new schools, which will be in the Italian style, will be very complete, and will possess all the latest improvements in school architecture. The architects are Messrs. Paull and Ayliffe, of Manchester, and the plans have been selected iv competition from about six others. The principle of the arrangements is that of full and complete classification. No fewer than 24 class-rooms will be provided, and in the centre of the building will be a large assembly-room, with gallery, wherein the whole of the scholars can assemble at the opening or the closing of the school, or on special occasions. In front will be a semi- circular room, with rising gallery, for infant tuition, capable of accommodating 150 children; and, besides these, there is a Dorcas, or ladies' room, where 60 persons could be accommodated for tea. The outlay involved will be nearly £5.000, the whole of which is expected to be raised by voluntary contributions. The contractor for the building is Mr Abraham Graham. [Huddersfield Chronicle 4 April 1863 page 5]

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL AT HUDDERSFIELD - On Friday afternoon the foundation-stone of Sunday-school to be erected in connection with Highfield chapel, Huddersfield, was laid by Mr Thomas Haigh, of Luther Place.  ….. The schools are to be erected behind the chapel, in place of the present building, which, for a considerable time, has been quite inadequate to the wants of the growing classes at Highfield. Externally, the building will be a handsome structure, in the Italian style, and will be an ornament to the neighbourhood. Its chief value, however, will be found in its internal arrangements. These will comprise twenty-four separate class rooms- a room for each class, and a large room capable of accommodating 600 at a tea-meeting, besides a lecture' room to hold 200, and a room for infants which will comfortably' hold from 100 to 120. The building will be the first school in this neighbourhood erected on the class principle. The architects are Messrs. Paull and Ayliffe, of Manchester. The building will cost about £3,000. [Leeds Mercury 6 April 1863 page 3]

The second of the series of lectures for the season, arranged to be delivered in the Highfield Schoolroom, took place on Tuesday night. The lecturer was Mr. H. J. Paull, FRIBA of Manchester. Mr. Robert Jackson occupied the chair.  In introducing the lecturer the chairman said, Mr. Paull was well known to them at Highfield, not as a lecturer, but as an architect. The noble Sunday school premises in which they were assembled were designed by him, and he could say with truth, that he had done much to improve the character of Sunday school buildings, not only in Yorkshire, but throughout the kingdom. Many men connected with Sunday school buddings had been to inspect these schools, and from what they said, the good character of such buildings had been greatly improved. In that school the architect had great difficulties to contend with, in consequence of the ugly nature of the ground; but he had so well arranged his plans that they had, besides that hall, twenty-six rooms, all of which were well lighted, and thoroughly well ventilated. [Huddersfield Chronicle 19 December 1868 page 5]

Reference    Builder 18 October 1862 Page 753
Reference    Leeds Mercury 14 February 1863 page 7 - contracts
Reference    Huddersfield Chronicle 4 April 1863 page 5 – foundation stone
Reference    Leeds Mercury 6 April 1863 page 3 – foundation stone
Reference    Huddersfield Chronicle 19 December 1868 page 5