Council Schools Chestergate Stockport (Architectural Competition)

STOCKPORT - In the council schools to be built in Chestergate, Mr. Alfred Darbyshire, VP RIBA., has acted as assessor. Messrs Cheers and Smith, of Blackburn, are the authors of the chosen plan. The school is to accommodate 900 scholars 400 mixed, 250 junior mixed, and 250 infants. The school for infants is not to be built at present. Manual instruction and cookery classrooms had to be provided. The whole scheme complete, including asphalting playgrounds, heating and ventilation, as well as architect's fees, had to be limited to £10,000. The swimming bath included in the design had to be considered as an additional item. The selected design has three central halls, which do not come within the aid of a government grant. The facades are distinguished by two rather large towers, which, considering the restrictions as to cost, are considered likely to come beyond the £10,000, which is really too low a sum. The competition conditions stipulated that the school "must" (it may be "should"), occupy one storey. The cookery and manual instruction rooms anyhow are on a first floor, the cloakrooms also being thug provided with separate stairs to each. Nineteen designs were submitted, and some of them are no doubt excellent. Mr. Woodhouse and his late partner, Mr. H. Willoughby, both sent in designs, the latter also an alternative. Mr Alfred W. S. Cross, M.A., Mr. Geo. Sedger, Mr. Butler, and Messrs. Lord and Royle and Beaumont figure prominently among the competitors. The plans are on view till tomorrow night in the Parade room, Market place, Stockport. [Building News 25 November 1904 page 757]

SCHOOL, CHESTERGATE, STOCKPORT - The designs of Messrs. Cheers & Smith, architects, Blackburn, have been selected for a new public elementary school to be erected at Chestergate, Stockport, The school provides accommodation for 950 children—viz., 300 infants, 250 mixed juniors, and 400 mixed seniors. A large swimming bath and cookery and manual instruction rooms form features of the building, [Builder 3 December1904 page 579]

CHESTERGATE NEW SCHOOLS – To Builders and Contractors - Persons desirous of Tendering for the whole of the Works required in the erection of the above-named SCHOOLS. in Hardman Street, Chestergate, and for which Messrs Cheers and Smith, of Blackburn and London. are the architects, are requested to send in their names,  together with a deposit of £3, which will be returned on receipt of a bona-fide tender, to the undersigned not later than Monday the 1st day of May 1905, after which bills of quantities will be supplied, and the drawings and conditions of contract may be inspected. ARTHUR LAWTON. Secretary to Education Committee. [Manchester Guardian 7 April 1905 page 1]

CHESTERGATE COUNCIL SCHOOLS - TO BUILDERS AND OTHERS - Persons desirous of Tendering for the Works required in the completion of the above-named Schools of which the foundations, portion of basement, and portion of the superstructure have been executed, and for which Messrs. Cheers and Smith, Blackburn and London, are the architects, are requested to send in their names, together a deposit of £3 3s. (which will be returned on receipt of a bona-fide tender). to the undersigned not later than Tuesday the 30th January. 1906, after which date bills of quantities will be supplied and the drawings and the conditions of contract may be inspected. Arthur Lawton, Secretary to Education Committee, Education Offices, Stockport. 17th January. 1906. [Manchester Guardian 20 January 1906 page 5]

STOCKPORT - For the completion of Chestergate Council schools, for the Education Committee. Messrs. Cheers & Smith, architects, Blackburn and London: Accepted tender —J. Ridyard, Ashton-under-Lyne*.£10,651 [Builder 3 March 1906 page 248 -tenders]

It is assumed that the original contractor became bankrupt during the course of construction and that new tenders for completion of the works were sought in 1906.

Reference        Building News 25 November 1904 page 757
Reference        Builder 3 December1904 page 579
Reference        Manchester Guardian 7 April 1905 page 1 – contracts
Reference        Manchester Guardian 20 January 1906 page 5 – contracts for completion
Reference        Builder 3 March 1906 page 248 - new contractor