Private School in Newton-Le -Willows

[dotbroady]

Hi,

My Dad attended a private school at Newton in the late 1920's whilst he lived at Bradley Hall and then Red House Farm, Burtonwood. When he was 10 in 1932 they moved to Lower Peover, Cheshire. He had to walk to school, over the canal, and along the road near the Vulcan Factory, then he caught a bus into Newton with his 'Nanny'. His mother didn't take him into school apparently, the nanny would collect him just before the canal and walk with him to the bus. Does anyone have an idea what the school might have been called? I think I was close to finding out once a few years ago but nothing really came of it, the school was in a large private house.

Thanks in advance,

Dot

[neileen]

there is a private school ,in a large house, on newton high street,willowbank i think it is called,it has been there a good while but whether it was there in the 1920's i dont know. but someone on here will know for sure

[DaveC]

Newton Bank School or The Bank School. I went there for a year in about 1953 and I seem to remember it seemed very well established.

DaveC

[Steven]

Newton Bank School is the house just to the left of this postcard, its the same type of property as the house on the left side

newton-bank-high-street.jpg

I believe this house, which used to stand besides St Peters was also a Private School, but I cannot remember if it was a Girls School.

school-besides-st-peters-high-street.jpg

Regards

Steven Dowd

[Podstar66]

I am sure I read somewhere, that Newton Bank School was set up in the 1940s. Started off with a small group of children being taught 'at home' sort of thing, during the war. Then setting up as a school proper, later on. I may be wrong though!

Pod

[hazel]

Newton Bank School http://www.newtonbankschool.co.uk/index.htm Established 1941

[dotbroady]

Thanks for the replies, i know it has to have been in the late 1920s early 1930s that my Dad went to the school in Newton as they moved to Lower Peover when he was 10 or 11 and he went to Lower Peover school then. Thanks again for the ideas,

[She]

My daughter goes to Newton Bank and Mr Myerscough from Southworth Road runs it now. It was the old Nat West Bank I think.I believe his parents ran it before him. However on the subject of schools that have "been and gone", the only other 2 I know of in the area are the old school at Winwick (which I think Steven either has photo of or at least photos with the old school house in the background) and of course the old school on Rob Lane. Does anyone know of any more in the area? I think there were schools where the building still stands but they are no longer a school.

Can you work out the rough location of this private school from details of his journey?

[ron knight]

There was also the Kirkfield School in Church St, which is now the Kirkfield Hotel. I don't know much about it, but it was a primary school, and some of my Newton Grammar School classmates had attended this school. it was operating in the 1950's . but I dont know when it was founded or when it closed.

[She]

I never knew that.

This quote from this site:

There were then (in 1740 several houses in Church St., viz. : One or two cottages on the right baud side of the road from the Chapel, where the cottage opposite Willow Road now stands; Mr. C. H. Clark's house was there; an old black and white house stood where Kirkfield School now is, and another old house adjoined. The Horse and Jockey Inn was then known as The George Inn, and was kept by John Ellam together with the Assembly Rooms

I presume this must be visible on some old map ?

[Steven]

The Kirkfield was a Hostel / Hotel in the 1950s, and was the Conservative Club in the 1910/16 period that a photo of it appeared in the J H Lane, Newton History book.

http://newton-le-willows.com/history/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=886

Steven Dowd

[She]

When I asked my Dad about this (as an 81 yo Newtonian), he told me that Kirkfield school was open until quite recently( his version of recent may differ to our version), and when it was closed down it moved across the way to become what is now Newton Bank School.

My Dad says it was a red brick building to the side of the Kirkfield hotel - maybe even adjoined onto it. He thought the building may still be there today. I had a look when I went past today, and nope....its not there.
There is a small bungalow to the left of the Kirkfield (if you were facing it from the other side of the street) and I am wondering of this sits on the plot of what used to be the Kirkfield school.

However it seems likely, that this is indeed the private school the poster refered to.

[aliciastubbersfield]

My mother and her sister, Margaret and Alicia Bryan went to Kirkfield School in the late 20s - it was next to the Kirkfield Hotel. They had a sports field up near Haydock Park Golf Club and one of the teachers was Miss Peck. My aunt (a GI bride now 87 and living in Nashville!) is still alive and remembers how strict it was.

Alicia

[Kirsty]

Hi All,

Found the following on the 1911 census which I thought may be of some use;

Church Street, Newton-le-Willows
HARTLEY, Gertrude - Head - Single - F - 41 (c. 1870) Boarding And Day School - Ormskirk, Lancashire
PECK, Margaret - Head - Single - F - 36 (c. 1875) - Boarding And Day School - Eccles
RAMSDEN, Nellie - Governess - Single - F - 26 (c. 1885) - Governes School - West Derby, Liverpool
MASON, Violet - Governess - Single - F - 22 (c. 1889) - Governes School - Princes Park, Liverpool
STRATTON, Gertrude - Boarder - Single - F - 16 (c. 1895) School - Richmond, Surrey
STRATTON, Doris - Boarder - Single - F 12 (c. 1899) - School - Richmond, Surrey
MIDDLETON, Florence - Servant - Single - F - 21 (c. 1890) - Cook Domestic - Golbourne, Lancashire
MIDDLETON, Gertrude - Servant - Single - F 19 (c. 1892) House Maid Domestic - Golbourne, Lancashire
DAVIES, Annie - Visitor - Widow - F - 46 (c. 1865) - Private Means -Ormskirk, Lancashire

TTFN, Kirsty

[aliciastubbersfield]

Miss Hartley was there with Miss Peck when my mother and aunt were children. I went to Newton Bank School from 1957 - 63 when it was owned and run by Audrey (I think) Rathbone. I remember queues of kids in the bathroom (yes, the bathroom) being given teaspoonfuls of cod liver oil. Mrs Whalley, Mrs Roberts and Mrs Ling were teachers while I was there - and Miss Deacon for ballet and Miss Maher for elocution!

Alicia