Devonshire Street Council School Higher Broughton

 Architect        Henry E Stelfox ARIBA.  C. K. and T C Mayor completed the building following the death of Stelfox.

The design submitted by Mr H Stelfox of Mosley Street, Manchester for the new Devonshire Street School, Higher Broughton, has been selected by the Salford School Board who has appointed Mr Stelfox architect for the work. [British Architect 3 July 1903 Page 4]

On Wednesday 22 March 1905, the memorial stone for the new school was laid by Councillor Muir, a member of the Education Committee. The school was built to provide for the growing population in the Higher Broughton district, Marlborough Road School already being full. A site of approximately 9,800 square yards had been obtained at a cost of £3000 and a school designed to accommodate 780 children in two departments. Places for 500 children were provided in a mixed department and 280 in an infants’ department, with a third department being added as necessary. The scheme had been initiated by the late School Board, who purchased the site and had the plans prepared. It was planned on the central hall system with seven classrooms round a central hall on each floor. Separate buildings were also provided for cookery and manual instruction. A caretaker's house would also be provided at a cost of £467. Lighting of the school was to be by electricity. The cost of the school including ancillary accommodation was £11,913 and the total cost, including the caretaker’s house  £12,380.  The report also noted: C T Mayor, who had undertaken to carry out the duties of the late Mr H E Stelfox, the architect of the schools, then presented to Councillor Muir a handsome silver trowel, bearing the inscription “Presented to Councillor John Muir by Messrs C K and T C Mayor, architects, on the occasion of the laying of the memorial stone of the Devonshire-street Council School, Salford. March 22 1905."

Councillor Scott desired to express his sincere regret at the premature death of the architect of the building, Mr Stelfox. That gentleman had given them the best buildings they possessed and his estimates had always been such that there has ben no extras, and that was a marvels thing and testified to the amount of work and time he devoted to their superintendence. He regretted very much they had lost his services. He had no doubt that his friends, who were in charge of the building, would do their best, but it was a bad thing for a community when they lost a good man.

Memorial  Stone: COUNTY BOROUGH OF SALFORD / DEVONSHIRE STREET SCHOOL / THIS MEMORIAL STONE OF THE 17TH COUNCIL SCHOOL WAS LAID BY COUNCILLOR JOHN MUIR, MEMBER OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE / MARCH 22, 1905.

Reference    British Architect 3 July 1903 Page 4
Reference    Salford City Reporter 25 March 1905 Page 4