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Town
Gate
Churches
Schools
Mercer Hall
Library
Martholme
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At
the beginning of 19th century there was only one school in Delph Road
for children who's parents belonged to the Church of England which was
most people at the time. Built by Roger Nowell in the 17th century it was often without a teacher as there was no money
to pay them. Legacies were the chief source of income. In 1820 William
Hindle of Burnley bequeathed £120 to the school providing it was
matched by the townsfolk and £173 was raised within the prescribed
12 months the interest on the money being used to provide a schoolmaster.
Over the next hundred years the town's population was to grow from around
1,500 to almost 14,000 obviously the school would not be able to cope. |
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In
1821 there were 25 scholars attending Delph Road School but by
1831 this had increased to 42, thirty boys and 12 girls. The school
was becoming too small.
A new
Church of England school was built in Queen Street in 1838. It
was called the National School and was attended by children of
the various denominations.
In 1867 the Inspector was so impressed with the school he prefaced
his remarks with ...........
"This is one of the best schools, if not the best I have visited". |
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The National School became redundant in 1915 and was demolished in 1935.
The town's population was still growing and more school room was needed.
The Roman Catholics had their own "Dame School" held in Paradise Cottage, Hindle Fold Lane run by the wife of Mr. James Lomax. A new Roman Catholic Church, Our Lady and St. Hubert's, and school were completed in 1859 and paid for by Mr. Lomax. In 1882 the same benefactor provided funds for an extension to the school and three years later paid for St. Hubert's Hall to be built providing further amenities for the school and church. Pupils were taught from infant through senior school until reorganisation in 1947 when the juniors joined St. Wulstan's School and the seniors of that school moved to the renamed St. Hubert's Catholic Secondary Modern School. Infants remained in a separate school at St. Hubert's.
In 1963 a new, large secondary school accommodating pupils from a wide area was opened a few miles away at Billington and St. Hubert's Secondary School closed. Four years later a new St. Hubert's Infant and Junior School was opened off Harwood Lane and the old school was closed and eventually demolished. |
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The
Congregational
Sunday School built in 1856 was organised as a day school in 1866
and in 1879 pupils transferred to the new British School in Barnmeadow
Lane. The building reverted to a Sunday School in 1909 when the
children decamped to the Western Council School in Rushton Street. |
My last stage performance was here in a
Youth Club Pantomime and even without the fire there was no chance
of an encore. |
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The
large hall was often used for local events especially after
the Mercer Hall was converted to swimming baths and is now The
United Reform
Church.
Much of the building was destroyed by arson in 1973.
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With
pupil numbers increasing the pressure on space was mounting at
the National School and St.
John's Church of England School
was built in St. John's Street. Opened in 1889 the school still
houses junior classes.
I
attended Sunday School, took part in some talent contests and
had a solo in a Youth Club Review here.
I had a fine singing voice back then. |
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In
1895 the Parish Church Boys School was built on Commercial Road. Sold
to the County Council in 1936 it became the Western Council Junior School.
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Is
there any sight more sad than an overgrown play ground ?
This was my junior school where I had some academic and sporting success.
I scored many memorable goals in this yard, well I can remember one.
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The
British School closed in 1909 the pupils moving to the Western Council
School in Rushton Street which later became a Modern Secondary School
until this role was taken over by Norden School in Rishton. It is
now a Junior School and adult education centre.
Infants
School, Rushton Street.
They
don't build 'em like this anymore. Much as I remember it from
my early school days but what do they use for goals now the air
raid shelters have gone |
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St.
Hubert's School also had to cope with increasing numbers but in 1912 St.
Wulstan's Roman Catholic School, also on Rushton Street, was built. Opened
in January 1913 it became an Infants and Junior School in 1947 seniors
transferring to St. Hubert's Secondary School. |
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In
1915 the Parish Church School, Ash Street was built and took the
remaining children from the National School which was closed.
During
a Youth Club Review of "Oklahoma"here my friend's boisterous
performance with a pitchfork caused much mirth amongst the audience
and much anxiety amongst the cast. |
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The
new St. Hubert's Infant and Junior School was opened in 1967 and
the old one was demolished. |
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St.
John's Infant department moved to a new building in the 60s too. |
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The
opening of Northcliffe brought an end to school building in Great
Harwood, so far, however with present demographic trends it is likely
that only replacements will be needed in the future. |
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