Wednesday 16th July, 2008
The New Building
In 1854 it was decided that the Lowe School was no longer suitable and in the next two years a new building was erected in Park Road, Hindley. A Charity Commissioners Report states, "The school was to be open for gratuitous instruction of Latin and English of 30 boys of Hindley and Abram between the ages of 6 and 15." Others were to be admitted to the school on payment of fees. By 1882 the building consisted of a large school room, a smaller classroom and a headmaster's house. There was a "good-sized" playground.
In 1881 only 11 of the free places had been taken and the master, Edward Law, felt that the fees for the others were too low. In 1882, therefore, he made a unilateral decision to alter the school terms, including an imposition of higher fees. This resulted in his dismissal after a period of six months notice. He refused, however, to acknowledge termination of his employment and had to be ejected from the building. A subsequent action against the trustees at Liverpool assizes resulted in a verdict in favour of the master and, presumably, he was reinstated.
In 1882 the government of the school consisted of a body of ten people. Five were representative governors (three from Hindley and two from Abram) and five were co-opted. The master held a stipend of 50 pounds a year and a capitation allowance of 4 pounds per fee-paying scholars. The only assistants were a full time student teacher who received 14pounds annually, and a visiting singing instructor, who was paid 8 guineas. Of the thirty-eight boys who attended only three had free places. There were no boarders although the school was authorised to have them.
Reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and history, English Grammar, composition and literature, mathematics, Latin, at least one European Language, natural science, drill and vocal music formed an extensive curriculum. Applicants for places at the school faced an entrance exam in "reading, writing from dictation, the first four rules of arithmetic, with multiplication tables, and the outlines of the geography of England".
It is interesting to note that in 1882 no boys came to the school from Abram! The reason given for this anomaly was the state of the road between Abram and Hindley. It was apparently in too bad a condition to allow easy passage. Children from Abram who desired a grammar school education travelled to Wigan.