Verdin Technical Schools and Gymnasium, Over Lane, Winsford, Cheshire

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, WINSFORD, CHESHIRE - The foundation-stone has just been laid of the Verdin Technical Schools, Winsford. The site of the schools immediately adjoins the Over Board Schools. The land falling sharply towards the brook at the back, opportunity has been taken of this deflection for placing the plumbers’ and fitters’ room, carpentering and joinering room, and the accommodation requisite for the mechanical system of heating and ventilating, all at this end of the building, a floor lower than the general ground floor level. The main entrance is in the front elevation facing High-street, and is surmounted by a large “Flemish" scroll gable, and flanked on either side by subordinate gables. Two subordinate doorways, similar in character and treatment to the principal entrance, also are provided. These provide direct communication with the male and female sections of the structure respectively, while the front entrance leads directly through an ante to the gymnasium. Mullioned and transomed windows are provided throughout the three principal elevations (excepting to the Art School). The front elevation, and as far as the two large gables on each of the side elevations. is to be faced with J. C. Edwards' Ruabon red stock bricks, and all dressings throughout, window heads, sills, mullions and transomes, doorways. chimney-stacks, gable-coping, plinth, etc., are being executed in red terra-cotta from the same firm. The whole of the roofs, where exposed to view, are being covered with deep red Ruabon roofing tiles. Internally the joiners' work generally is being executed in St. John’s pine, stained and twice varnished. The corridors are to be plastered, having a wood dado mould and skirting, and the floors paved with wood blocks. The gymnasium floor is to be formed of two thicknesses of floor boards, and the walls to same are having a dado 4 ft. high of salt-glazed bricks. The entrance and hall for each sex, and also to gymnasium, are proposed to be paved with encaustic tiling, laid on a cement bed. The building is to be warmed and ventilated by a patent mechanical system, prepared by the Blackman Smead Company, of London and Manchester, under the supervision of the architects.

On the ground floor the following rooms are given: Top-lighted gymnasium 50 ft. by 37 feet, with separate boys' and girls' dressing-rooms and lavatories, also provided with gallery 37 ft. by 9 ft., and having access and egress by two staircases, one from each adjacent corridor. Four class-rooms, each 22 ft. by 21 ft. 6 in., are provided. The superficial area of these rooms can be thrown into one large room 88 ft. by 21 ft. A chemical laboratory. 24 ft. by 19 ft. 6 in.is placed at the farthest end of the boys' corridor, and away from the general teaching-rooms. Three rooms will be arranged in the Art section of the buildings—viz., painting room; drawing from cast; and elementary art room. This suite of rooms is directly approached from the girls' corridor, as well as a wash-house, an ironing-room, etc. , for the teaching of laundry work. Ample lavatory and cloakroom is provided for each sex, adjacent to their respective entrances. A committee room, with separate lavatory, is also provided, and on the first floor over the cloak-room, male and female teachers' rooms are planned, being partly in the roof, with separate lavatory, &c., and entered through an ante from the landing of each staircase. The erection of the whole of the work has been entrusted to Messrs. James Fowles & Son. Winsford. from the designs and under the supervision of Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, of Manchester, whose scheme was chosen in open competition. [Builder 18 August 1894 page 120]

THE VERDIN TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND GYMNASIUM, which will be opened at Winsford by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster next Thursday, are the gift of Mr Joseph Verdin whose brother Mr W H Verdin laid the foundation stone exactly a year ago. “No town in the country” to quote the terms of an address presented to the donor on that occasion, “with the limited population of Winsford, possesses so noble a structure, devoted, as this will be, to movements of so high and beneficial a character, capable also of affording such great mental and physical improvement.” The school comprises class and preparation rooms, a chemical laboratory, an art store room, plumbing room, cookery room, laundry, drying and ironing rooms, and committee and cloak rooms. The lighting and ventilation as well as the heating of the building are devised on the most recent and presumably the most efficient principles. Messrs Woodhouse and Willoughby, of Manchester, the architects, have produced a building which, though on a much larger scale than its neighbours, is in keeping with the character and architectural traditions of the locality. In the centre of the block is the main entrance, surmounted by a large Flemish scroll gable and flanked on either side by subordinate gables, each with a bold chimney stack springing from the apex, and connected by the ridge of the roofing with the main gable. Two subordinate doorways, similar in character and treatment to the principal entrance, provide direct communication - one with the boys= section of the schools and the other with the girls= department - while the front entrance leads directly through an ante-room to the gymnasium. Mullioned and transomed windows light the three principal elevations. The front of the building and part of the sides are faced with Ruabon red stock bricks, and all the dressings are in red terra cotta. Internally the building is finished in a simple yet substantial manner. The joiner=s work is generally of St John’s pine, stained a walnut shade and twice varnished. The gymnasium measures 49 feet 6 inches by 37 feet 6 incjes and is 30 feet high from floor to ceiling. Fitted with parallel and horizontal bars, giant=s stride, bridge ladder, hand rings, trapeze bar, falling horse and spring board, a pair of jumping stands, Indian clubs, dumb bells, boxing gloves, and fencing foils and masks, the gymnasium is as completely equipped as every other section of the institution. The cost of the building, including the furnishing, amounts to about ,8,000. An idea, it is stated, has got abroad that the building will be costly to maintain. There appears to be no reasonable ground for such an apprehension. At present a rate of one penny in the pound is being levied for technical education purposes and this figure cannot be exceeded. The only additional rate will be the cost of maintaining the gymnasium, and this is limited by the Act to one halfpenny in the pound for the year. It will probably not be necessary to draw upon the rate to the full extent. For the first year the Governors have decided to charge the students attending the schools a low fee, divisible over three terms. [Manchester Guardian 3 August 1895 page 7]

TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND GYMNASIUM, WINSFORD, CHESHIRE - The Verdin Technical Schools and Gymnasium was opened at Winsford by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster on the 8th inst. The schools comprise class and preparation rooms, a chemical laboratory, an art store-room, plumbing room, cookery-room, laundry drying and ironing rooms, and c0mmittee- and cloak-rooms. Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, of Manchester, are the architects. In the centre of the block is the main entrance, surmounted by a large Flemish scroll gable and flanked on either side by subordinate gables, each with a chimney-stack springing from the apex, and connected by the ridge of the roofing with the main gable. Two subordinate doorways, similar in character and treatment to the principal entrance, provide direct communication—one with the boys’ section of the schools and the other with the girls’ department, while the front entrance leads directly through an ante-room to the gymnasium. Mullioned and transomed windows light the three principal elevations. The front of the building and pan of the sides are faced with Ruabon red stock bricks, and all the dressings are in red terra-cotta. Internally, the joiner's work is generally of St. John's pine. The gymnasium measures 49ft. 6in. by 37 ft. 6 in., and is 30 ft. high from floor to ceiling. The cost of the building, including the furnishing, amounts to about £8,000. [Builder 17 August 1895 page 123]

Foundation    Memorial stone laid 4 August 1894
Opened        8 August 1895

Reference    Manchester Guardian Tuesday 11 July 1893 Page 1 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 15 July 1893 Page 3 (Contracts)
Reference    Building News 3 August 1894 page 162- memorial stone
Reference    Building News 10 August 1894 page 198 memorial stone
Reference    Builder 8 July 1893 Page 34 (Contracts)
Reference    Builder 18 August 1894 page 120
Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 August 1895 page 7
Reference    Manchester Guardian 9 August 1895 page 6 - opening ceremony
Reference    Builder: 17 August 1895 page 123