Independent Methodist Sunday Schools, Fold’s Road, Bolton

BOLTON - The foundation stone of Sunday-schools about to be erected adjoining the Independent Methodist Chapel, Fold’s-road, was laid on Saturday, the 23rd instant, by Mr A Winterburne, of Bolton. The estimated cost is £2,000 of which amount a moiety has been collected. Messrs W Burrows and Son of Bolton are the contractors, and the architect Mr James Lomax, of Bolton. The building is designed in an unpretentious style, the material being brick. [Building News 6 October 1871 Page 258]

The following is a description of the new schools that are in course of erection. The schools are to be erected on the south side and adjoining the chapel. The front entrance will be in Independent Street, and the back entrance in Barnes Square. The building is to be of the modern style of Italian architecture, having its exterior walls panelled, with stone base coarse, and neat stone dressings. The windows to the ground-floor storey are to have segmental brick arches over, and those to the upper storey to be semi-circular, with key-stones, and moulded impost caps. There will be ten windows to the south side of the building and five to the front, with neatly designed front entrance, with stone plinth, pilasters, frieze, cornice, and blocking course. The north, south, and east sides are to be built of patent brick. The interior of the building will be divided into upper and lower storeys, with a cellar-kitchen under the classrooms in which it is intended to place the heating apparatus, boiler for tea parties, and other purposes, and to be used for storage. The interior dimensions of the building are 69 feet in length by 37 feet 3 inches in width, with vestry in addition. Ou the ground-floor there will be a school, the dimensions of which will be 51 feet in length and 35 feet 9 inches in width; an infants' classroom of 18 feet long and 14 feet wide; a vestry 11 feet 6 inches long and 14 feet wide, with passage and space for library. There is a flight of stairs at each end of the room communicating with the upper storey. The height of the ground storey is 15 feet clear. The vestry communicates with the chapel and chapel yard by convenient doorways. The upper storey has a schoolroom 51 feet 6 inches long and 35 feet 9 inches wide, divided into three classrooms and the height of this storey is 15 feet 6 inches clear. With flat ceiling. The class-rooms are so arranged, by sliding partitions, that they can be thrown open to the school to enable the scholars in the class-rooms to hear addresses given from the platform, which is to be placed at the east end of the school, and to be neatly constructed, to suit all the requirements of a platform and singers' gallery. It is proposed to heat the school by hot water, and to efficiently ventilate rooms, so when complete, it will in every respect supply all the requirements for health and comfort. The arrangements for classes will be such as to give complete accommodation to 900 scholars. The cost of the school and fixtures is estimated at about £2,000. The whole is expected to be completed by December next. The plans have been prepared by Mr. James Lomax, of Bolton, architect, who has given the plans and superintends gratuitously for the erection of the building. [Bolton Guardian 30 September 1871 page 3]

Reference    Building News 6 October 1871 Page 258
Reference    Bolton Guardian 30 September 1871 page 3