Bolton School

Bolton School, moved from the town centre to the site on Chorley New Road and on Lever's urging joined with the Bolton Girls High School.  The school initially occupied Westcombe, a large house by George Woodhouse, adapted for educational use by J Simpson, later demolished [along with several other villas including Woodhouse' own house, Heath Bank] to allow for building and expansion of new school buildings.

NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS - A competition in 1918 for new buildings, judged by Bradshaw Gass & Hope, was organised by Lever who specified a collegiate form in the shape of a letter U and was to be responsible for two thirds the cost of building, was won by C.T. Adshead, with design in form of two quadrangles connected by a central archway. Sadly Lever did not live to see the school built: Great Halls opened first in 1929; Sports Centre takes the place of the chapel planned on the central axis of the layout. Last additions, the two ranges parallel to Chorley New Road, 1962, by Bradshaw Gass & Hope, completed Adshead's plan but to a modified design.

Fine great halls with hammer beam roofs and libraries with oak panelling and furniture by Gordon Russell who also detailed the light fittings in the Hall. Bust of Lever by Sir W. Goscombe John and copy of the George Hall Neale portrait. Boys' war memorial stair -glass by Shrigley and Hunt

Royal Academy Exhibits:  1925 - 1142  Bolton School The main front to Chorley New Road, Charles T Adshead architect 14 St Ann's Square Manchester (Graves)

Reference : Pevsner,  Lancashire: South