The building work is completed and the Old Boys School, as it is known in the Village, is again open for business and the usual hirers of the Hall are enjoying the upgraded facilities. Registered Charity 1005668
The building work is completed and the Old Boys School, as it is known in the Village, is again open for business and the usual hirers of the Hall are enjoying the upgraded facilities.
The Parish Council hold their meetings in the Hall, the Thwaite Brow Woods Conservation Group, and many other organisations such as Art Groups, a Sewing Group, the WI, Men's Fellowship, a Dancing Class, Junior Sunday School, Floral & Horticultural Society and Philatelic Society are all enjoying using the Old Boys School in its bright new made over form.
During the second world war the building was used by the Home Guard and the Army. At various times since then it has served as a Doctor's Surgery, Public Library, Centre for further and adult education, and in the past seventy years has provided an affordable and convenient place for many local organisations.
Major repair works and refurbishment carried out in recent years include a full re-roofing of the building (1985), installation of indoor toilet facilities (1989), a complete kitchen refit (1997) and substantial improvements to the central heating system (2005).
Inspired by the achievements of their predecessors the present Board of Trustees decided to tackle the major problem of damp (as in 1856), and also undertake a refurbishment of the fixtures and furnishings.
When they decided to embark upon their project “Renaissance 2010” they knew they were taking on a major task, and that there was much to do to make the old building suitable for purpose in modern times.
Applications for funding from various charitable organisations were sent off, and encouraged by a magnificent Grant of £ 21,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trustees were able to plan for opening up a stone fireplace of architectural merit, providing information boards in the building, liaison with Bolton le Sands CE School to arrange for visits by present day scholars for a Victorian School presentation, a series of Heritage Walks beginning and ending at the School, and a collection of Oral histories recorded by former pupils and past and present users of the premises.
There have been generous donations from a number of Charitable bodies, the Harold and Alice Bridges Charity gave £ 3,000, the Garfield Weston Foundation £ 2,000, and the Duchy of Lancaster
£ 500, and Mr. Ron Harrington also gave £ 500, which has enabled the insulation in the roof space to be doubled, the toilets to be fully tiled and fitted with new sanitary ware with a new hot water supply, new crockery has been bought, and a complete re-decoration of the inside and outside is in progress. More specifically the Galbraith Trust kindly made £ 2,320 available so that the whole of the floor coverings to the main hall, cloaks, toilets and store could be re-done, West Lancashire Freemasons £ 1,700 for upgrading the toilets, and Bolton le Sands Parish Council have paid for sixty new chairs.
The School was originally a single room structure opened as a free Grammar School in 1637 and built as a result of the bequest of Thomas Assheton who died in 1622. Several bequests in the following years enabled the School to remain financially viable.
Lessons in the early days were in Latin, Greek, writing, arithmetic and religious teaching. The autobiography of William Stout (1665-1752) records that he was a pupil at the age of seven, subsequently moving on to Heversham Grammar School then Lancaster Grammar School. There is also evidence that in the great days of Lancaster as a port, boys from the West Indies were educated at the School, boarding with or as arranged by the Headmaster.
The will of Mr. Assheton did not specify whether boys or girls were to be educated, but Stuart period schools normally only catered for boys. In 1845 however seven of the forty five scholars were girls.
In 1827 a porch was added to the front of the building, and in 1856 the Trustees came to the conclusion that a larger building was needed. They originally wanted to knock down the old school and build on the site, but one of the Trustees, Mr. R. A. Peacock of Slyne Lodge managed to convince his fellow trustees that the dampness in the old building could be cured and a suitable extension was erected in the summer of 1857. A successful public appeal resulted in financial security for another 80 years.
In 1870 girls were no longer allowed to attend, and in 1876 the School achieved recognition as a Public Elementary School and thus came under Government Inspection, and eligible for a financial grant towards its upkeep.
The 300 th anniversary was celebrated on the 1 st September 1937 and the Trustees presented silver medals to the two teachers and 45 children and caused a bronze plaque to be fixed in the School.
Legislation in 1936 to remove pupils of eleven plus from all age schools throughout the country and low numbers on roll caused amalgamation between the two existing Village schools to take place and in September 1940 the Boys School ceased to operate.