The Russell Scott Memorial Schools Prestwich Street (late Wilton Street) Denton

New schools are being erected at Denton near Manchester from the designs of Mr P Pons, architect of that city.The new building will accommodate 360 children and will be used for both day and Sunday school purposes. [British Architect 9 September 1881 Page 453]

The foundation stone was laid on the 3 September 1881 by Miss Isabella Scott, Lawrence's sister, of Norcliffe Hall, Styal, Cheshire, and its building was funded by Isabella Civil Scott and Lawrence Scott and certain of his friends. The school was opened on the 22 July 1882 by Richard Peacock JP of Gorton Hall and partner in Beyer Peacock, steam locomotive manufacturers of Gorton. It was stipulated that it was to be strictly non-denominational, in spite of its close connection with the adjoining Unitarian Chapel. In 1883 Isabella Civil Scott provided new playgrounds by the school and over the next 20 years the Scott family augmented the school's annual income. Besides taking a great interest in the welfare of the pupils, she also provided a cottage at Woodford for the rest and recreation of teachers and later another one at the seaside. The schools adjoin the Unitarian Chapel in Wilton Street and were founded by and built at the cost of Mrs Russell Scott, mother of the Rev Lawrence Scott, minister of the church, in memory of her husband. They included a mixed school and infants’ school, and have had for some time past an average attendance of nearly 400 children. The schools were built to accommodate 384 children, and included one large room 60 feet by 27 feet, another of 40 feet by 27 feet, and several classrooms. [Manchester Guardian 19 July 1886 page 5]

The style of the new building is free Gothic. It is a bold and handsome structure, designed by Mr P Pons, architect, of John Dalton Street, and erected under his supervision by Messrs Holmes and Webster, Ashton-under-Lyne. On the ground floor there are a kitchen and vestry, connected with the present chapel; the girls’ entrance and staircase leading to their three classrooms; an infants’ schoolroom 28 feet by 27 feet, and infants’ classroom; also the boys’ main entrance, with principal staircase; and a fives court 24 feet by 20 feet, with all requisite accommodation. The first floor consists of a girls’ classroom, 26 feet 6 inches by 18 feet 6 inches; also a boys’ schoolroom 40 feet long by 27 feet wide, with principal and secondary staircases. Over the main staircase is a tower, with high-pitched roof, which is utilised by providing a library, storeroom, staircase and room for the water cisterns, which supply the whole of the establishment. The walls of the principal rooms and staircases are lined with white glazed bricks and coloured bands. The girls and infants’ classrooms can be shut off from the main schoolrooms by means of revolving shutters, and the arrangement of the girls’ chief classroom is such that by lifting the shutters it forms a platform 3 feet 6 above the level of the boys’ schoolroom, with a 15 feet opening, forming a proscenium, and giving a total length of the room of 59 feet. The building is very efficiently heated and lighted and the ventilation of several rooms has been an object of special care. Over the main entrance appears the inscription “In remembrance of Russell Scott, 1882. Erected for the furtherance of education in this town,”

The cost of the building was defrayed by Isabella Scott nee Prestwich, the widow of Russell Scott (II) and the mother of the Rev Lawrence Scott and C P Scott of the Manchester Guardian.

Reference    British Architect 9 September 1881 Page 453
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 July 1886 page 5 – opening of People’s Hall
Reference    Manchester Guardian 24 July 1882 page 6 – opening