Cottage Homes & Schools Styal Cheshire

In the early 1890s, the Chorlton Board decided that children and babies should be accommodated at separate premises away from the workhouse. In 1894, the Board of Guardians established a sub-committee to pursue the establishment of a cottage homes colony. A site near to Quarry Bank Mill was identified and a loan of £50,000 was obtained from Liverpool Corporation to fund the project. The foundation stone for the homes was laid on 31st August, 1896, by Arthur Balfour, MP for East Manchester. The architect was J B Broadbent of Manchester. Additional probationary homes were added in 1905. A Church of England chapel was erected near the site entrance. Only Protestant children were accepted at Styal - Roman Catholic children were placed elsewhere. In 1928, the site was extended to the north and additional cottages built to accommodate 200 children from the Swinton Industrial Schools which was being closed down. A new recreation hall and gymnasium were added in 1930. The homes closed on 20th July, 1956. In December that year, refugees from Hungary were accommodated on the site, staying until 30th September, 1959. On 23rd May, 1960, the Prison Commission took over the site and on 24th October, 1962, it re-opened as Styal Prison, a semi-secure prison for women. The houses and hospital at the north of the site have now been demolished.

J M Anderson placed the designs in the following order - No 1 - “Snowflake”; No 2 - “A Home”; and No 3 – “Q E D”. However, the conditions of the competition required that provision was required for 300 children in cottages designed to accommodate note more than 20 in each, the first cottage to be at the entrance gates and to also act as the receiving ward. In the design submitted by “Snowflake” the entrance cottage contained only six beds, leaving a deficit of 14. With reluctance he was compelled to disqualify the design and accordingly assigned first place to “A Home,” second to “QED”, and third to “Village Homes.” The Committee resolved that the award of prizes be in accordance with Mr Anderson’s recommendations:

• 1st premium      £75         “A Home”                           Charles Clegg and Son               est cost £34,756
• 2nd premium     £ 50        “Q E D”                              J W Beaumont                          est cost £35,998
• 3rd premium     £25         “Village Homes”                  W Telford Gunson and Son          est cost £30,000
• Disqualified                      “Snowflake”                       James W Broadbent ARIBA          est cost £26,560

However, the committee further resolved that having regard to the report of the assessor, as far as merit and adaptability were concerned, they proposed to adopt the plans of “Snowflake,” and that the author of the work, James B Broadbent ARIBA of Manchester was to be entrusted with the work. [Manchester Guardian 4 May 1895 page 9]

 COTTAGE HOME AND SCHOOLS, STYAL, CHESHIRE.—The award made in this competition by the Assessor, Mr. John Macvicar Anderson, was as follows :—First Premium, “A Home ” to Messrs. Charles Clegg & Son, of 104, King-street, Manchester; Second, “ Q.E.D.,” Mr. J. W. Beaumont, of 10, St. James’s-square, Manchester; Third, “Village Homes,” Messrs. W. Telford Gunson & Sons, of 10, Marsden street, Manchester. The Assessor in his report says that, so far as merit in design and adaptability is concerned, he has no hesitation in placing the plans of “Snowflake” first, but as, in these, accommodation is only shown for 286 children, instead of 300, he has in consequence reluctantly felt compelled to disqualify the same. The Guardians have, however, decided to adopt the plans of “Snowflake,” whose author, Mr. J. B. Broadbent, of 1, Princess-street, Manchester, has been entrusted with the carrying out of the work. [Builder 11 May 1895 page 358]

The colony opened on 4th October, 1898 and was the subject of an illustration and report in Building News:

COTTAGE HOMES, STYAL, CHESHIRE. - The group of buildings herewith illustrated has been erected for the Chorlton Union. It comprises a lodge at entrance, which is used as a quarantine station, homes to accommodate 20 children in each. Kindergarten school, workshops, bake-house, swimming bath, etc. (in the rear of the site), a hospital built for 10 beds, with accommodation for nursing staff, superintendent's house, and boardroom. The large school, of which a view is shown in the corner of our plate, is situated about half a mile from the homes, and will eventually be attended by the village children. The works were commenced in the spring of 1896, and opened at the beginning of October last, the amount of the contract being rather over £50,000. The homes at present provide accommodation for 310 children, but the offices and school are built for an ultimate population of from 500 to 600. Mr James B. Broadbent, ARIBA, of Manchester, is the architect. [Building News 10 March 1899 Page 339 and illustration]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 4 May 1895 page 9
Reference    Builder 11 May 1895 page 358
Reference    Manchester Guardian 26 November 1895 page 11 - Terra cotta and iron staircases
Reference    Manchester Guardian 17 December 1895 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian 5 October 1898 Page 10, Column 6 - opening
Reference    Builder 15 October 1898. Page 343
Reference    Building News 10 March 1899 Page 339 and illustration