CheadleHulmeSchool: AHistory
ThisisthestoryofourSchoolâŠ
WelcometoVictorianBritain!ItâsaSaturdayinNovember1855,and youârewalkingthesmog-soakedstreetsofGreaterManchester.The chimneysarechokingtheskyanditâsyourfirstdayofschool.Yes, schoolonaSaturdayâblimey!
MrMcDougallistheHeadTeacherandheâllsoonbewelcomingyou.But beforehedoes,wethoughtyoushouldknowhowthisrefugefor orphansandotherchildrencametobeâŠ
Thebackstory
Letâsrewindayear.Itâsnow1854andManchesterishometoBritain'sbiggest cottonindustry.Seethosemills?Theyârecottonmills.Yourfatherâsinoneof them,workinghisfingerstothebonetokeepyouandyourfamilyfed.
Torunproperly,thesecottonmillsneedmenfromallaroundthecounty, workinginroleslikeportersandpackers,recordkeepersandclerks.And theseguystoilawayalldayuntilitâstimetoheadbackhome.
Theideathatthesedark,drabanddownrightdangerousbuildingswouldgo ontodotManchesterâsskylinewouldbelaughedat.Childrencertainly couldnâthangaroundthem.AndthatâswhyourSchoolwasfounded,asThe ManchesterWarehousemanandClerksâSchoolforOrphansandNecessitous Children.Amouthful,weknow.
Whatdothosewordsmean?Well,weâllgetontothatinaminute.Inthe meantime,itâsimportanttoknowthatourSchoolwassetupbythosevery samemenworkinginthewarehouses.
Didyousayâorphansâ?
So,unlikeSpider-Man,thesekidshadamotherâbutbecausetheirfather haddied,theywerecalledânecessitousâ.Thesamewastrueforanychildren whosedadwasalive,butwassoillhecouldnâtlookafterthem.
OurSchoolwouldtakethesekidsinandgivethemahome.Yep,thatmeans theylivedhere24/7!Thatâswhyyoumayhavenoticedourmottoisâinloco parentisâââintheplaceofaparentâ.
Nowtheideaoflivingatschoolmayseemstrangetoyou,butManchesterin the1800swasquiteliterallydescribedasaâstrangeplaceâ,withchimneys âvomitingâsomuchsmokeyoucouldnâtseesixfeetinfrontofyouâŠgross.
Andtrustuswhenwesaythatyouwouldnâtwanttoworkinthemills.
TradesmeninManchestertypicallyreachedtheageof20.Andifyouwerea labourer,noteventhat.Ifyourpoorolddadwasdoingthegruntwork,heâd beluckytomake18.
HowâdtheSchoolpayforallthis?
Knowingthattheyhadtodosomething,thewarehousemenandclerks fundedourSchoolthroughaninsurancescheme.Abitlikealottery.
Onceayear,theypaidasingleguinea(orÂŁ1.05)intothescheme.Andfor thatprincelysum,iftheydied,theirlittleonescouldbelookedafterbyour Schoolforfree.
Ofcourse,theycouldnâtgettheschemeoffthegroundunlesstheyhadthe supportofwealthywarehouseowners.Theyeventuallywonthemoverby puttingadvertsinlocalpapersandplasteringtheschemeâsnameon billboardsthroughouttheNorthWestâresult!
CheadleHulmeSchool, beforeCheadleHulme
By1855,theinsuranceschemewaswellunderway.Thechallenge was,ourSchoolwasnât.CheadleHulmeSchooldidnâtexistyet.
Thismeantthatthefirstsixpupilsweresenttoaschoolheadedup byMrMcDougalloveratShawHallinFlixton.Asitgrew,our studentswerethenhousedatChaddertonHall.Anditwasnâtuntil sixyearslaterthatthecommitteedecidedtobuildtheirownplace.
Schoolsareexpensivetobuild,though.Sointheearlydays, CheadleHulmeSchoolwasactuallytwosingleterracedhomesin Ardwick.Honestly!Pushtwohousestogetherand,heypresto,you haveaschool.
OurmigrationtoCheadleHulme
Nowyoumightbewondering,whyArdwick?Fairquestion.See,Ardwick wasafashionablechoiceatthetime.Itwasclosetothecitycentretoo, makingiteasytotravel.
Butthelocationhaditsdownsides.Thecitycentrewaspoisonous,bothina literalsense(rememberthevomitingchimneys?)andinthesensethatthe streetsweredangerousplacestobe.
So,thankstohugefundraisingefforts,thecommitteeofwarehousemenand clerksmanagedtobuysomelandintheleafysuburbofCheadleHulme. Andin1869,afterabigopeningceremony,studentsandteachersfinally movedtotheirnewhomeintheSchoolbuildingthatyouseetoday.
Theschoolday
Backthen,theSchool'stimetablewasnâtquiteasitisnow...
06:30 - Wakingbell(incoldweather,eventhetoothpastefroze)
07:00 - Lessons(girlsandboysenteredHoldenHallthroughseparateentrances)
08:00 - Breakfast(prayersafterporridge)
08:30 - Activities(boyswenttoplay,girlsmadeboththeirandtheboysâbedsâcrazy,right?)
09:00-12:00 - LessonsinHoldenHall(likealgebra,trigonometry,Frenchandengineering)
12:00 - Activities(likeswimming,workshoporplaying)
13:00 - Lunch(oftensoupfollowedbymeat,potatoesandveg,andthenpudding)
13:30 - Play
14:00-16:00 - LessonsinHoldenHall
16:00 - Activities
17:00 - Tea(breadandbutter,jam,andpiecesoffruit)
17:30-18:45 - Freetime
18:45-20:15 - Prepforolderpupils(pupilswereletoffpreponMrMcDougallâsbirthday)
20:30 - Supper(waterormilk,andyetmorebreadandbutter)
21:00 - Bedtime(bathstakenonarota)
Anddonâtforget,youlivedhereâsoyourweekendwasdecidedbythe School!
Saturday: Sport,spendingpocketmoney(lessthanapenny),drills(fire, dentist,exercise),gardening,orattendingdances
Sunday: Church,twice(brothersandsisterswalkedtogetherandcouldtalk)
Therewouldberiotsifanyschoolstucktothattimetabletoday.But alongwithbowingtotheHeadTeacherandgirlsbeingmadetoplay separately,thiswasjustthewaythingsweredone.
Usuallyboyswouldtrainintheworkshop,whilegirlslearntsewing andcookery.Andifyouthinkthatâsunfair,girlswerenâtallowedto swiminthenewpooluntil1902asitwasconsideredunladylike. Pfffffft.
Thestartofouracademic achievements
Attheendoftheterm,studentswouldtakeanexam,andhavingthebest markswouldearnyouacashprize!Mindyou,ifthepocketmoneyis anythingtogooff,wewouldnâtexpectmuchâŠ
Childrenwouldtakepartinwoodworkandsewingexams,aswellasthe subjectswehavetoday.
TheverybestFoundationers(asstudentswerecalledbackthen)would havetheirnamesengravedonbigwoodenHonoursboards.Keepyour eyespeeledandseeifyoucanspotthemaroundtheSchoolâssite!
Celebrating50yearsofsuccess
Itâshardtoimaginethat,fromsuchhumblebeginnings,CHSwould growyearonyearandenjoyaJubileecelebrationâbutitdid.And whatacelebrationitwas!
Initsfirst50years,1,327âorphansâhadbeencaredforâmostofwhich wentontohighereducationandevenuniversity.
Sadlythough,ourSchoolwouldcomeupagainsttwobigchallenges beforegettingtowherewearetoday.Anyguesses?
Thepre-waryears
Butbeforeweduck,diveanddodgeintothetrenches,itâsimportantto understandthatwedidbecomealotlessmiserableaftertheVictorianera âpartlyduetotheintroductionofelectricityandexercisebooksinsteadof slate.Yup,intheoldendays,wequiteliterallywroteonstone!
Justbeforethewar,CHShadnearly300pupils.Thatwasalotbackthen,so weneededajuniordepartmenttohandleit.
Weupgradedourswimmingpoolandevenlettheboysplayfootballforthe firsttime.Notthegirlsthough,thetwowerekeptapartbyaspikedfence!
TheFirstWorldWarshookourSchoolmuchlikeitdidtherestofthe country.Studentsandstaffwouldperformregularfiredrillsandpractise evacuationsacrosstheirdormitories.
FromourSchoolgates,pupilswouldseetrainloadsofbravesoulsontheir waytoserveabroad.Theyâdalsoseethetrainsreturnwiththewounded.
Therewasnoescapingit,especiallywhenpartoftheSchoolwasconverted intotheRedCrossAuxiliaryHospitalforWoundedSoldiers.
Despitethehorrorsofwarthough,CheadleHulmeSchoolremainedarefuge forthoseinneedofcare.Truetoitsmotto,ourSchoolshelteredyoung peoplewithnowheretogo.Andbythetimethewarended,ithadcaredfor atotalof1,402veteransandrehomed55boyswholosttheirfathers.
Thanksfrom afuturePM
WinstonChurchill(youmayhave heardofhimâshortguy,smokeda cigar,wouldonedaybecomeprime minister)wrotetoCheadleHulme Schoolthankingusforourhelpinthe war.Butwhilewewerejustdoingour dutybyprovidingfacilities,forsome, thewarcostthemeverything.
Approximately400ex-pupilsserved inWWI,and61died.
Torememberthem,theoldpupilsâ associationâTheOldWaconiansâerectedthememorialsundialwhich canstillbeseentoday!
Andifyou'reinterested,wealso madeamemorialtabletthatyou canfindintheMainBuilding.
Therun-uptoWWII
TheFirstWorldWarmadeourSchoolalittlestrappedforcash.Alongwith mostoftheUK,tobehonest.So,weactuallybeganfilmingadvertsthat wouldbeshowninlocalcinemas.Hardlyasuperheroflick,butabigdeal inthe1920s!
Strangely,itwasnâtuntil1931thatwefinallygotourCheadleHulmeSchool name,anditwasfromtherethatwestartedtoreshapeourselvesintohow welooktoday.MoredayschoolchildrenjoinedourSchool,andwe introducedanentranceexam.
Weaddedmoreinterestingsubjects,includingGerman,Latin,Greek, economicsandevenagriculture.Oh,andwealsointroducedlaundry lessonsforthegirlsâagain,itwasadifferentworld.Girlsandboysstill hadtositatdifferenttablesinthedininghall.
BUT!Wedidtakethosespiked railingsdownfromtheplayingfields. Nowgenderrivalriescouldbesettled onthesportspitch,withregular battlesofboysvs.girlsinhockey.
Thisathleticspiritlivedoninsome formerpupils,wholabelled themselvesTheOldWaconiansâ lacrosseteamandwoneverytrophy opentothemin1946/47.
Ifyouhavenâtalreadynoticed,CheadleHulmeisabitofahidden gem.Backinthe1930s,thepolicethoughtthatitwassohidden thatmostofthegirlsfromManchesterHighSchoolandFairfield HighSchoolwereevacuatedtohere.
Thegirlsweresenttolivewithlocalfamilies,whowerepaideight shillingsaweekforputtingthemup.Withthislot,ourSchool nowhadover1,000pupils.Yetitwasbuilttoonlyhold400'cramped'doesn'tevenbegintocoverit!
Thismeantthatclassesweresometimesheldinthechurchorin theupstairsofashop,meaningthatpupilswouldneedtorace aroundCheadleHulmetowherevertheirlessonwasbeingheld. Butdonâtgetuswrong,CheadleHulme didnâtescapethewarunscathedâŠ
JustoverinWoodford,greatbigLancasterBomberswerebeingbuilt.That madeCheadleHulmeatarget.Sooutwentthemenwiththeirshovels,and airraidshelterswerebuiltbehindHoldenHall.
Asthewargotworse,weworegasmasks,placedsandbagsoutsideof buildings,andaddedblackoutblindstoall503windowsinthemain buildingssotheNaziscouldnâtseeus!
MoreshelterswerebuiltundertheSchool,fieldandeventheswimming pool.Theolderpupilsweretrainedonwhattodointheeventofafireafter abombing.
Soundoverthetop?Well,twohigh-explosivebombsdidactuallylandon theSchoolâsfieldsduringthebombings.Weâdsaytheywererighttoprepare, wouldnâtyou?
Rememberingthose whoserved
BeforewemoveontotheSchoolasitistoday,itâsworth rememberingthe35newpupilsthatjoinedusaftertheirfathers hadlosttheirlivesfightingintheSecondWorldWar.
Theimpactcouldbeseeneverywhere.Therewere51OldGirls and480OldBoyswhoservedourcountry,and46OldBoysnever camehome.
WecanpayourrespectsattheRollofHonourBoard,whichyouâll findintheReceptiontotheSeniorSchool.Thesebravesouls, alongwiththestudentsandstafffromthewholeSchool,joinour annualServiceofRemembranceoutsidetheMainBuilding.
Fromtheretohere
Weturned100in1955,andbythispointwewerenâtjustoldâwewere popular.Weâdgrownintoamuchlargerdayschool,andwewerefamous nationwideforouracademicprowess.
Ofcourse,morepupilsmeantthatweneededmoreclassrooms.So, between1957and1992,weextendedthesciencelabsandgotcreatingan artsblock,ametalandwoodworkcentre,agym,ajuniorschool,amaths block,andamodernlanguagesbuildingâphew!
Despitethepopularity,wewerenâtthemostfashionable.Throughoutthe 50sand60s,boyswouldwearcapsandgirlswouldwearberets.You couldnâtescapeiteither,wemadesureofthat.Prefectswouldinsistyou worethembeforeleavingthecloakroomathometime.
Therewerelesspeopleboardingwithusafterthewar,buttheirlodgings hadcomeonleapsandboundssincethe1800s.By1975,eachofthemhad aTVintheirroom.Fancy!
Theendofanera
Andsoitwasdecided,theboardinghousewastobeclosed. In1992,CHSwaslargelyadayschoolanyway,sothe governorsdecidedthedormitorieswouldbenomore.
Thiswasgoodnewsinsomewaysâafterall,wehadan influxofextrapupilsthatwereburstingthroughtherafters!
Wesettoworkconvertingthegirlsâdormintoahistory department,aswellasmusic,artandsciencerooms.The boysâdormwastransformedintoareasforgeography, psychologyandart.EvenofficesandSixthFormcommon roomswerecreatedoutoftheoldbedrooms.
Sincethen,weâveextendedourarmstoevenyounger studentsâwiththeopeningofaninfantdepartmentand, morerecently,apre-schoolforthree-year-olds.Cute!
Theheads over thedecades
MrRichardson,2024-present-
010-2018 ...... MsPearson,2
OurfirstfemaleHeadTeacher,MsPearson,isaf cricketerwhoplayed12Testmatches,62OneDayI andwasnamedWomen'sPlayeroftheYearin200 pupils,shewasknownforherboldspeechesandex sportsprogramme
ormerEnglish nternationals, oand2003.To pansionofthe shereatCHS.
MrFirth,1977-1989
MrJohnston,1963-1974
MrLockhart,1922-1954 -
ThelongestservingHeadTeacher,MrLockhartwasa hadservedwithdistinctionduringtheFirstWorld awardedtheMilitaryCross.Bothstaffandstudentsr andhe'saccreditedwiththeintroductionofe activitieswith
warhero.He War andwas espectedhim, xtracurricular inourSchool.
eorgeBoardis MrBoard,1884
Abitblandinname,butcertainlynotinnature,MrG oneofourSchool'smostfascinatingHeadTeachers.D archives,you'llfindMrBoard'slogbook.Thistomec aspectoftheSchool'swakinglife.Eventodayita insightintoVic
-1906 -
eepwithinthe ontainedevery ctsasaunique torianactivity.
MrLaurie,1867-1880
MrHarrison,1863-1864
MrMcDougall,1855-1861
MrSmith,2018-2024
MrDixon,2001-2010
MrWilk"mson,1989-2000
ïżœ MrWilcox(ActingHead),1974-1976
MrWhiting,1954-1962
MrPurdy,1906-1922
MrStone,1880-1884
MrEversden,1864-1865
MrAdkin,1861-1863
ThisiswhereyourstorybeginsâŠ
Asyoucansee,CheadleHulmeSchoolhasarichhistoryâahistorythat formerpupilsareproudtobeapartof.
Somuchso,infact,thatinthe1890stheOldBoysandOldGirlsofour Schoolsetupassociationstokeepintouchwitheachother.Thetwojoined forcesin1953,becomingTheOldWaconiansâAssociationcompletewitha presidentandcommittee.
Nowadaysmembershipisfree,andanystudentormemberofstaffthat leavesourSchoolautomaticallybecomesanâOldWacâ.
ManyreturntoCHSeveryyeartorelivefondmemories,speaktostudents, oreventoteach!
Thisglobalcommunitywillbecomeyournetworkastheysupportyouwith yourstudiesandinyourfuturecareers,makingyourSchoolanevenbetter place.
SomeOldWacsevenmirrortheactionsofourfoundersanddonatemoney tohelpstudentsattendourSchoolregardlessoftheirfinancial circumstances,keepingourcommunityasvibrantanddiverseasithas beenthroughoutourhistory.
Sowelcome,Waconianintraining.Weâreexcitedtowatchthejourney youâlltakethroughourSeniorSchool. Goodluck!
Ourschoolsong
JerusalembyWilliamBlake
Anddidthosefeetinancienttime
WalkuponEnglandâsmountainsgreen?
AndwastheholyLambofGod
OnEnglandâspleasantpasturesseen?
Anddidthecountenancedivine
Shineforthuponourcloudedhills?
AndwasJerusalembuildedhere
Amongthesedarksatanicmills?
Bringmemybowofburninggold!
Bringmemyarrowsofdesire!
Bringmemyspear!Oclouds,unfold!
Bringmemychariotoffire!
Iwillnotceasefrommentalfight, Norshallmyswordsleepinmyhand, TillwehavebuiltJerusalem InEnglandâsgreenandpleasantland.
Glossary
Foundationer
The children in the foundation scheme of the Manchester Warehouseman and Clerksâ Orphan Schools became known as Foundationers.
Guinea
Currency used in Great Britain from 1663 until 1816. It is worth ÂŁ1.05.
In Loco Parentis
This Latin phrase means âin the place of a parentâ, and is the Schoolâs motto.
Military Cross
A military decoration awarded for courageous behaviour in battle.
Necessitous
A person in need or lacking the necessities of life. In poverty.
Shilling
Currency used in Great Britain until 1990. It was worth 12d until 1971, when the decimal system was introduced. (1 shilling = 5p)
Old Waconian
Former students and staff members of the School.
Sir Winston Churchill
Prime Minister 1940-1945 and 1951-1955.
HelenWilliamson,Classof1943,whoselegacyhelpedmakethisbookpossible.
CarolLeather,Classof1964;CathyBeavis,Classof1972;MelanieRichardson,Classof1980;and MartineWebsterfortheirsupportwiththisproject.
StuartHylton,whosequotationofDavidsonandCityNewsisreferencedonpage4.AndAsa Briggsforher1963bookVictorianCities,alsoreferencedonpage4.
IllustrationsbyJohnCooper WrittenanddesignedbyMakingYouContentLtd
