School Chapel, Eckersley Fold Lane, Howe Bridge, Atherton

ATHERTON, LANCASHIRE. — For this place Mr. Withers has designed a building which will accommodate two hundred and sixty children as a school, and two hundred and eighty adults as a chapel. It is a Pointed rectangular building, of brick, with bands of red and blue Staffordshire tiles; and at one end there is a chancel with an apsidal sanctuary. The forms of this building are not agreeable. The cost was £1,200. [Ecclesiologist February 1867 page 57]

TO BUILDERS and OTHERS – Persons willing to submit tenders for building a SCHOOL CHAPEL at HOWE BRIDGE close to Chowbent Station are informed that the plans and specifications will lie for inspection at Mr Horrobin’s, Chowbent Station, from the 18th to the 27th inst. Tenders upon the forms supplied to be delivered free of cost on or before the 28th inst addressed to J P Fletcher Esq, Atherton Old Hall, near Manchester

In 1868 the Vicar of Atherton opened a Licensed School-Chapel in Eckersley Fold Lane.  The priest in charge was the enthusiastic Rev.C J Naters who was responsible for the building of the first parsonage, Oak Lea on Leigh Road, which was originally much smaller than it is now. The exact location of the School Chapel remains in question. The 1893 map gives no indication of such a building on Eckersley Fold, Lane. However, the 1909 map shows a Sunday school on Fold Lane close to its junction with Leigh Road. It is presently assumed that the original building was demolished when St Michael and All Angels parochial school opened in 1888

Reference    Manchester Guardian, Wednesday 20 June 1866 Page 1- contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian, 21 June 1866 Page 4 contracts
Reference    Builder 11 August 1866 Page 604 (Tenders)
Reference    Ecclesiologist February 1867 page 57