St John's Church of England School Baguley

Completed in October 1879, only four months after the project was first decided upon. Built at a cost of approximately £500 on land donated by Thomas William Tatton, the school building made only basic provision, comprising simply one large hall, subdivided to provide a separate infants area occupying about one third of the space. Heating was provided by one large fireplace which also served to heat the meals brought by children who did not return home at lunch times. However, no provision was made for cloakrooms or a playground. This lack of amenities, necessitated various extensions to the building in subsequent years. Now demolished. At the time of construction, Heathcote was an office holder at St John's and a friend of the then vicar

BAGULEY - St. John's School, Baguley, Cheshire, which was recently opened, is composed of a large room, class‑room, porch, etc. The interior is lined with white brick throughout, with pitch-pine dado, which has a very good effect. The largest room is 36 feet long by 24 feet wide, with open‑timbered roof 25 feet high in the centre. The class‑room is 24 feet long by 12 feet wide. The porch is lined with pitch‑pine, and is used for the cloaks and hats. Ventilation and warming is done by means of Shillito and Shorland's patent ventilators and grates. The outbuildings consist of the usual offices, fitted with earth closets, and coal and ash places. About 1,200 square yards is taken up by the site. In style the building may be termed " Picturesque." The entire work, including bell and bell‑turret, making playground, forming boundaries, etc, was executed for the sum of £510, which is a small amount considering that the school will accommodate 140 children. The builders were Messrs Elms and Evans, Greenheys, Manchester; and the architects Messrs Smith and Heathcote, of Moseley‑street, Manchester, and Abchurch Lane, London. [Building News 31 October 1879 page 536]

Reference    Irene Collins (ed)    Chapters in Parish History. The first hundred years of the Church of St John the Divine Brooklands. No date (c1968)
Reference    British Architect 7 November 1879 Page 186
Reference    Building News 31 October 1879 page 536