Pendleton Ragged School and Windsor Institute West George Street New Windsor

New premises for the Ragged School of Pendleton. Windsor, were formally opened on Friday in West George‑street. New Windsor. The present building was formerly the New Windsor Congregational Church, and has been purchased bv the trustees of the Ragged School. It has been transformed under the direction ot M. John F. Knight, architect, and the work has been carried out by Mr J Tonge of Swinton. The cost of the adaptation has been £3.000. [Building News 21 June 1907 p874]

Pendleton Ragged School was founded in Ellor Street in 1858, its name being changed after a few years to Pendleton Sabbath and Week Evening School. The school building was closed in 1902 but accommodation was found for the pupils in Bethesda School and in a building in Peel Street once used as a school. In1907 it acquired premises in West George Street, Windsor Bridge, Cross Lane, The name "Windsor Institute and Pendleton Ragged School" was adopted in 1914 and from 1920 it was known as the Windsor Institute. Its officers worked under a Board of Trustees established or re‑established from time to time. In the1950s attendance at the Institute considerably diminished as nearby houses were demolished and the Institute was closed in 1966, its work being taken over by Manchester City Mission. Information on its wide range of activities, which included Sunday evening schools for children and adults, the encouragement of temperance, physical education, the "Little Folk Choir", the maintenance of a penny bank and the use of the buildings as a cinema and for recreational purposes, is given especially in its annual reports.

Archive includes correspondence, especially with John Knight, 5 Cross Street, Manchester, architect, regarding payment for alterations and extensions (incl. provision for removal of coffins encountered on site) to the Institute, 1930.

Reference    Building News 21 June 1907 p874
Reference    City of Salford Archives