St Hilda’s Primary School Ogden Street/Park Street Heaton Park Prestwich

To meet the growing requirements of an increasing population. The managers of St Hilda’s Primary School on Whittaker Lane decided to erect a new building at the rear on a site bounden by Ogden Street and Park Street to the designs of Percy Lodge, architect of Prestwich. Money was limited. For £1,200 Percy Lodge, who had long been associated with church work in the neighbourhood gave them a large room—in which boys and girls in the standards would be educated under a master — and two classrooms—and it was estimated that b164 children would find accommodation before the room got too full. The plans were so drawn as to enable the building to be enlarged when required by the addition of another large room and two classrooms. This, however, was considered to be in the distant future, and if ever carried out it would be by another generation of parishioners under another rector. The foundation stone was laid on 13 June 1891 by Mrs. Moorhouse (the wife of the bishop of Manchester). The granite stone bore the following inscription: "To the glory of God. For the training of the lambs of His flock this school was built, A.D. 1891."

NEW SCHOOL AT ROODEN-LANE: LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE - The corner stone of new school which is being built in Ogden-street, Rooden-lane, in connection with the Whittaker-lane School, was formally laid on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering. The building, which. when completed, will be in the classical Renaissance style, is from the designs of Mr. Percy Lodge, of Prestwich, and the cost will be £1,200. The contract has been placed with Mr. R. Whitell, Barnes Green. The sub-contractors are—brickwork, Mr. James Booth, Cheetham; stonework, Mr. F. M. Nutall, Besses; heating apparatus, Mr. F. Spencer, Oldham. …. [Middleton Guardian - Saturday 20 June 1891 page 6]

NOTE Rooden Lane was the name originally given to that part of Bury Old Road near to the entrance to Heaton Park and the immediately surrounding district.

Reference           Middleton Guardian - Saturday 20 June 1891 page 6