CheadleHulmeSchool: AHistory
ThisisthestoryofourSchool…
WelcometoVictorianBritain!It’saSaturdayinNovember1855,and you’rewalkingthesmog-soakedstreetsofGreaterManchester.The chimneysarechokingtheskyandit’syourfirstdayofschool.Yes, schoolonaSaturday–blimey!
MrMcDougallistheHeadTeacherandhe’llsoonbewelcomingyou.But beforehedoes,wethoughtyoushouldknowhowthisrefugefor orphansandotherchildrencametobe…
Thebackstory
Let’srewindayear.It’snow1854andManchesterishometoBritain'sbiggest cottonindustry.Seethosemills?They’recottonmills.Yourfather’sinoneof them,workinghisfingerstothebonetokeepyouandyourfamilyfed.
Torunproperly,thesecottonmillsneedmenfromallaroundthecounty, workinginroleslikeportersandpackers,recordkeepersandclerks.And theseguystoilawayalldayuntilit’stimetoheadbackhome.
Theideathatthesedark,drabanddownrightdangerousbuildingswouldgo ontodotManchester’sskylinewouldbelaughedat.Childrencertainly couldn’thangaroundthem.Andthat’swhyourSchoolwasfounded,asThe ManchesterWarehousemanandClerks’SchoolforOrphansandNecessitous Children.Amouthful,weknow.
Whatdothosewordsmean?Well,we’llgetontothatinaminute.Inthe meantime,it’simportanttoknowthatourSchoolwassetupbythosevery samemenworkinginthewarehouses.
Didyousay‘orphans’?
So,unlikeSpider-Man,thesekidshadamother–butbecausetheirfather haddied,theywerecalled‘necessitous’.Thesamewastrueforanychildren whosedadwasalive,butwassoillhecouldn’tlookafterthem.
OurSchoolwouldtakethesekidsinandgivethemahome.Yep,thatmeans theylivedhere24/7!That’swhyyoumayhavenoticedourmottois‘inloco parentis’–‘intheplaceofaparent’.
Nowtheideaoflivingatschoolmayseemstrangetoyou,butManchesterin the1800swasquiteliterallydescribedasa“strangeplace”,withchimneys “vomiting”somuchsmokeyoucouldn’tseesixfeetinfrontofyou…gross.
Andtrustuswhenwesaythatyouwouldn’twanttoworkinthemills.
TradesmeninManchestertypicallyreachedtheageof20.Andifyouwerea labourer,noteventhat.Ifyourpoorolddadwasdoingthegruntwork,he’d beluckytomake18.
How’dtheSchoolpayforallthis?
Knowingthattheyhadtodosomething,thewarehousemenandclerks fundedourSchoolthroughaninsurancescheme.Abitlikealottery.
Onceayear,theypaidasingleguinea(or£1.05)intothescheme.Andfor thatprincelysum,iftheydied,theirlittleonescouldbelookedafterbyour Schoolforfree.
Ofcourse,theycouldn’tgettheschemeoffthegroundunlesstheyhadthe supportofwealthywarehouseowners.Theyeventuallywonthemoverby puttingadvertsinlocalpapersandplasteringthescheme’snameon billboardsthroughouttheNorthWest–result!
CheadleHulmeSchool, beforeCheadleHulme
By1855,theinsuranceschemewaswellunderway.Thechallenge was,ourSchoolwasn’t.CheadleHulmeSchooldidn’texistyet.
Thismeantthatthefirstsixpupilsweresenttoaschoolheadedup byMrMcDougalloveratShawHallinFlixton.Asitgrew,our studentswerethenhousedatChaddertonHall.Anditwasn’tuntil 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'stimetablewasn’tquiteasitisnow...
06:30 - Wakingbell(incoldweather,eventhetoothpastefroze)
07:00 - Lessons(girlsandboysenteredHoldenHallthroughseparateentrances)
08:00 - Breakfast(prayersafterporridge)
08:30 - Activities(boyswenttoplay,girlsmadeboththeirandtheboys’beds–crazy,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(pupilswereletoffpreponMrMcDougall’sbirthday)
20:30 - Supper(waterormilk,andyetmorebreadandbutter)
21:00 - Bedtime(bathstakenonarota)
Anddon’tforget,youlivedhere–soyourweekendwasdecidedbythe School!
Saturday: Sport,spendingpocketmoney(lessthanapenny),drills(fire, dentist,exercise),gardening,orattendingdances
Sunday: Church,twice(brothersandsisterswalkedtogetherandcouldtalk)
Therewouldberiotsifanyschoolstucktothattimetabletoday.But alongwithbowingtotheHeadTeacherandgirlsbeingmadetoplay separately,thiswasjustthewaythingsweredone.
Usuallyboyswouldtrainintheworkshop,whilegirlslearntsewing andcookery.Andifyouthinkthat’sunfair,girlsweren’tallowedto swiminthenewpooluntil1902asitwasconsideredunladylike. Pfffffft.
Thestartofouracademic achievements
Attheendoftheterm,studentswouldtakeanexam,andhavingthebest markswouldearnyouacashprize!Mindyou,ifthepocketmoneyis anythingtogooff,wewouldn’texpectmuch…
Childrenwouldtakepartinwoodworkandsewingexams,aswellasthe subjectswehavetoday.
TheverybestFoundationers(asstudentswerecalledbackthen)would havetheirnamesengravedonbigwoodenHonoursboards.Keepyour eyespeeledandseeifyoucanspotthemaroundtheSchool’ssite!
Celebrating50yearsofsuccess
It’shardtoimaginethat,fromsuchhumblebeginnings,CHSwould growyearonyearandenjoyaJubileecelebration–butitdid.And whatacelebrationitwas!
Initsfirst50years,1,327‘orphans’hadbeencaredfor–mostofwhich wentontohighereducationandevenuniversity.
Sadlythough,ourSchoolwouldcomeupagainsttwobigchallenges beforegettingtowherewearetoday.Anyguesses?
Thepre-waryears
Butbeforeweduck,diveanddodgeintothetrenches,it’simportantto understandthatwedidbecomealotlessmiserableaftertheVictorianera –partlyduetotheintroductionofelectricityandexercisebooksinsteadof slate.Yup,intheoldendays,wequiteliterallywroteonstone!
Justbeforethewar,CHShadnearly300pupils.Thatwasalotbackthen,so weneededajuniordepartmenttohandleit.
Weupgradedourswimmingpoolandevenlettheboysplayfootballforthe firsttime.Notthegirlsthough,thetwowerekeptapartbyaspikedfence!
TheFirstWorldWarshookourSchoolmuchlikeitdidtherestofthe country.Studentsandstaffwouldperformregularfiredrillsandpractise evacuationsacrosstheirdormitories.
FromourSchoolgates,pupilswouldseetrainloadsofbravesoulsontheir waytoserveabroad.They’dalsoseethetrainsreturnwiththewounded.
Therewasnoescapingit,especiallywhenpartoftheSchoolwasconverted intotheRedCrossAuxiliaryHospitalforWoundedSoldiers.
Despitethehorrorsofwarthough,CheadleHulmeSchoolremainedarefuge forthoseinneedofcare.Truetoitsmotto,ourSchoolshelteredyoung peoplewithnowheretogo.Andbythetimethewarended,ithadcaredfor atotalof1,402veteransandrehomed55boyswholosttheirfathers.
Thanksfrom afuturePM
WinstonChurchill(youmayhave heardofhim–shortguy,smokeda cigar,wouldonedaybecomeprime minister)wrotetoCheadleHulme Schoolthankingusforourhelpinthe war.Butwhilewewerejustdoingour dutybyprovidingfacilities,forsome, thewarcostthemeverything.
Approximately400ex-pupilsserved inWWI,and61died.
Torememberthem,theoldpupils’ association–TheOldWaconians–erectedthememorialsundialwhich canstillbeseentoday!
Andifyou'reinterested,wealso madeamemorialtabletthatyou canfindintheMainBuilding.
Therun-uptoWWII
TheFirstWorldWarmadeourSchoolalittlestrappedforcash.Alongwith mostoftheUK,tobehonest.So,weactuallybeganfilmingadvertsthat wouldbeshowninlocalcinemas.Hardlyasuperheroflick,butabigdeal inthe1920s!
Strangely,itwasn’tuntil1931thatwefinallygotourCheadleHulmeSchool name,anditwasfromtherethatwestartedtoreshapeourselvesintohow welooktoday.MoredayschoolchildrenjoinedourSchool,andwe introducedanentranceexam.
Weaddedmoreinterestingsubjects,includingGerman,Latin,Greek, economicsandevenagriculture.Oh,andwealsointroducedlaundry lessonsforthegirls–again,itwasadifferentworld.Girlsandboysstill hadtositatdifferenttablesinthedininghall.
BUT!Wedidtakethosespiked railingsdownfromtheplayingfields. Nowgenderrivalriescouldbesettled onthesportspitch,withregular battlesofboysvs.girlsinhockey.
Thisathleticspiritlivedoninsome formerpupils,wholabelled themselvesTheOldWaconians’ lacrosseteamandwoneverytrophy opentothemin1946/47.
Ifyouhaven’talreadynoticed,CheadleHulmeisabitofahidden gem.Backinthe1930s,thepolicethoughtthatitwassohidden thatmostofthegirlsfromManchesterHighSchoolandFairfield HighSchoolwereevacuatedtohere.
Thegirlsweresenttolivewithlocalfamilies,whowerepaideight shillingsaweekforputtingthemup.Withthislot,ourSchool nowhadover1,000pupils.Yetitwasbuilttoonlyhold400'cramped'doesn'tevenbegintocoverit!
Thismeantthatclassesweresometimesheldinthechurchorin theupstairsofashop,meaningthatpupilswouldneedtorace aroundCheadleHulmetowherevertheirlessonwasbeingheld. Butdon’tgetuswrong,CheadleHulme didn’tescapethewarunscathed…
JustoverinWoodford,greatbigLancasterBomberswerebeingbuilt.That madeCheadleHulmeatarget.Sooutwentthemenwiththeirshovels,and airraidshelterswerebuiltbehindHoldenHall.
Asthewargotworse,weworegasmasks,placedsandbagsoutsideof buildings,andaddedblackoutblindstoall503windowsinthemain buildingssotheNaziscouldn’tseeus!
MoreshelterswerebuiltundertheSchool,fieldandeventheswimming pool.Theolderpupilsweretrainedonwhattodointheeventofafireafter abombing.
Soundoverthetop?Well,twohigh-explosivebombsdidactuallylandon theSchool’sfieldsduringthebombings.We’dsaytheywererighttoprepare, wouldn’tyou?
Rememberingthose whoserved
BeforewemoveontotheSchoolasitistoday,it’sworth rememberingthe35newpupilsthatjoinedusaftertheirfathers hadlosttheirlivesfightingintheSecondWorldWar.
Theimpactcouldbeseeneverywhere.Therewere51OldGirls and480OldBoyswhoservedourcountry,and46OldBoysnever camehome.
WecanpayourrespectsattheRollofHonourBoard,whichyou’ll findintheReceptiontotheSeniorSchool.Thesebravesouls, alongwiththestudentsandstafffromthewholeSchool,joinour annualServiceofRemembranceoutsidetheMainBuilding.
Fromtheretohere
Weturned100in1955,andbythispointweweren’tjustold–wewere popular.We’dgrownintoamuchlargerdayschool,andwewerefamous nationwideforouracademicprowess.
Ofcourse,morepupilsmeantthatweneededmoreclassrooms.So, between1957and1992,weextendedthesciencelabsandgotcreatingan artsblock,ametalandwoodworkcentre,agym,ajuniorschool,amaths block,andamodernlanguagesbuilding–phew!
Despitethepopularity,weweren’tthemostfashionable.Throughoutthe 50sand60s,boyswouldwearcapsandgirlswouldwearberets.You couldn’tescapeiteither,wemadesureofthat.Prefectswouldinsistyou worethembeforeleavingthecloakroomathometime.
Therewerelesspeopleboardingwithusafterthewar,buttheirlodgings hadcomeonleapsandboundssincethe1800s.By1975,eachofthemhad aTVintheirroom.Fancy!
Theendofanera
Andsoitwasdecided,theboardinghousewastobeclosed. In1992,CHSwaslargelyadayschoolanyway,sothe governorsdecidedthedormitorieswouldbenomore.
Thiswasgoodnewsinsomeways–afterall,wehadan influxofextrapupilsthatwereburstingthroughtherafters!
Wesettoworkconvertingthegirls’dormintoahistory department,aswellasmusic,artandsciencerooms.The boys’dormwastransformedintoareasforgeography, psychologyandart.EvenofficesandSixthFormcommon roomswerecreatedoutoftheoldbedrooms.
Sincethen,we’veextendedourarmstoevenyounger students–withtheopeningofaninfantdepartmentand, 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
� MrWilcox(ActingHead),1974-1976
MrWhiting,1954-1962
MrPurdy,1906-1922
MrStone,1880-1884
MrEversden,1864-1865
MrAdkin,1861-1863
Thisiswhereyourstorybegins…
Asyoucansee,CheadleHulmeSchoolhasarichhistory–ahistorythat formerpupilsareproudtobeapartof.
Somuchso,infact,thatinthe1890stheOldBoysandOldGirlsofour Schoolsetupassociationstokeepintouchwitheachother.Thetwojoined forcesin1953,becomingTheOldWaconians’Associationcompletewitha presidentandcommittee.
Nowadaysmembershipisfree,andanystudentormemberofstaffthat leavesourSchoolautomaticallybecomesan‘OldWac’.
ManyreturntoCHSeveryyeartorelivefondmemories,speaktostudents, oreventoteach!
Thisglobalcommunitywillbecomeyournetworkastheysupportyouwith yourstudiesandinyourfuturecareers,makingyourSchoolanevenbetter place.
SomeOldWacsevenmirrortheactionsofourfoundersanddonatemoney tohelpstudentsattendourSchoolregardlessoftheirfinancial circumstances,keepingourcommunityasvibrantanddiverseasithas beenthroughoutourhistory.
Sowelcome,Waconianintraining.We’reexcitedtowatchthejourney you’lltakethroughourSeniorSchool. Goodluck!
Ourschoolsong
JerusalembyWilliamBlake
Anddidthosefeetinancienttime
WalkuponEngland’smountainsgreen?
AndwastheholyLambofGod
OnEngland’spleasantpasturesseen?
Anddidthecountenancedivine
Shineforthuponourcloudedhills?
AndwasJerusalembuildedhere
Amongthesedarksatanicmills?
Bringmemybowofburninggold!
Bringmemyarrowsofdesire!
Bringmemyspear!Oclouds,unfold!
Bringmemychariotoffire!
Iwillnotceasefrommentalfight, Norshallmyswordsleepinmyhand, TillwehavebuiltJerusalem InEngland’sgreenandpleasantland.
Glossary
Foundationer
The children in the foundation scheme of the Manchester Warehouseman and Clerks’ Orphan Schools became known as Foundationers.
Guinea
Currency used in Great Britain from 1663 until 1816. It is worth £1.05.
In Loco Parentis
This Latin phrase means “in the place of a parent”, and is the School’s 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
