28th November, 2006
Lamberhead Green Atherton Wesleyan Methodist School
In the middle of the 19th century education was neither free nor compulsory. Many districts relied on churches to provide educational facilities. In Lamberhead Green, which lies about 2.5 miles from Wigan town centre, there were two day schools which were connected to churches. One was the "National School", a Church of England establishment. The other was the Lamberhead Green Atherton Wesleyan School, which was opened in 1858 and was part of what is now the Trinity Methodist Church buildings. The school was largely funded by William Atherton, a Q.C. and Member of Parliament.
William Lord
William Lord was born in Bacup, Lancashire. He was the son of a weaver. By 1861 his mother had been widowed and she took in lodgers to supplement the household income. Both lodgers were young teachers who taught at a local Methodist school. Perhaps it was through their influence that William became a pupil teacher. A pupil teacher trains by taking lessons from the master before the pupils arrive and then teaches for the rest of the school day. Most pupil teachers went on to training college and became certificated teachers.
On 9th January, 1865, William Lord - aged only 23 - was appointed master at Lamberhead Green Atherton Wesleyan School. He moved into the school house.
The area around the school was not a prosperous one. Most inhabitants of Lamberhead Green, at the time, were either mill workers, miners or nail makers. It was not easy to recruit promising pupils in such a location. As school funds were allocated according to results, it was going to be difficult to stay financially viable. Pupils supplemented the grant by paying "school pence" but often this was not forthcoming. Also, the school had a poor reputation.
On William's first day only 38 pupils attended.
He was, however, a skilful teacher and an energetic recruiter of pupils. The erection of a swing in the playground, the canvassing of local parents and a sympathetic approach to his pupils' needs brought results.
By October of his first year pupil numbers had increased to about 130, and his first public examination was a great success. William wrote this in the school log book:
"(The examination) gave great satisfaction to parents and friends. It caused quite a sensation in the village."
to be continued...