St.Annes Technical School
ST.ANNES TECHNICAL SCHOOL
FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING CEREMONY
The foundation stone laying ceremony of St.Annes Technical
School marks a new epoch in the history of St.Annes. For many
years the higher education classes have been carried on in five
different places in the town, greatly to the inconvenience of
the students and to the detriment of proper supervision.
Laying the foundation stone of the Technical School,
St.Annes-on -the-Sea, 1906.
The need of a central building was greatly felt, and on
representations being made to the County Council, the
Education Committee of that body came to our assistance and
offered to erect a building on terms that the Urban Council
would have been unwise if they had not snapped up. In
consideration of St.Annes continuing to lay a penny rate for
higher education purposes the County Council have undertaken to
provide the cost and future maintenance of the school.
The building, which was designed by Mr. H. Littler, County
Architect, is estimated to cost £6,000, with an additional
£2,000 for furnishing. The contract was let to Mr. Thos. Cottam,
of Preston. The foundation stone was laid by Coun. John
Whiteside, J.P., on November 28th, 1906, in the presence of a
large concourse of the public, and the speech-making was
contributed by Coun. R. H. Irving (Chairman of the gathering and
Chairman of St. Annes Higher Education Committee), Sir Henry
Hibbertson (Chairman of the Education Committee of the County
Council), Dr. Lloyd Snape (Director of Education), Mr. T. Loftus
(Town Clerk of Blackpool), Coun. W. Thompson and Mr. G. W.
Parkes. Coun. Whiteside who is seen in the photograph wearing
his robes and chain of office, was presented with a silver
trowel by Mr. H. Littler (the architect), and with a mallet by
Mr. E. Sharrock (representing the contractor). A reception was
afterwards held at the Carnegie Library by Mr. and Mrs.
Whiteside, at which 250 guests were present.
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ST.ANNES TECHNICAL SCHOOL
 The,
St.Annes Technical School was opened on Monday afternoon last
(September 30th, 1907) by Sir Henry Hibbert, Chairman of the
Education Committee of the Lancashire County Council. Bunting was
freely used from the imposing new school and its next door
neighbour-the Carnegie Free Library, and there was every appearance
of public rejoicing. Unfortunately, after three weeks of delightful
sunny weather, this was the first day of an impending change, and
leaden cloud's o'erhung the sky. No rain fell, however, and although
the sun did not favour the proceedings with his benignant presence,
the function lost none of its interest for the people who were
assembled in vast numbers, nor for the formalities, which were both
picturesque and cheerful. Everything passed off without a single
hitch, and up to a late hour hundreds of townspeople made a tour of
inspection of the handsome and well equipped building.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.
 The
handsome building, which is in keeping with the general architecture
of St. Annes, has been erected from the designs of Mr. Littler,
County Architect, and the work has been carried out under the able
superintendence of Mr. G. E. Smirk, a very painstaking clerk of the
works. The contract was let to Mr. T. Cottam of Preston. The school
is imposing in appearance anal solid in construction. The outside of
the building is faced with Accrington brick with dressings of Darley
Dale stone. After passing up the fine stone steps at the front a
spacious arched porch is entered. At the end of the porch are swing
glass doors, which bear the crest of the St. Annes Urban District
Council in stained glass. These doors lead through a fine arch to
the large entrance hall, 27ft. by 18ft.
This ENTRANCE HALL has a handsome tiled dado to a height of 3ft.
6in. carried all round, and also along the two main corridors which
lead from the hall. The floor, lavatories and corridors are all
marble terrazzo. On the right and left of the large hall the the
teachers' and' secretary's rooms, the walls of which are of duresco
with colour to the ceiling. Opening from the main corridor are the
No. 3 classroom, the lecture room, a preparation room, and a
laboratory for 25 students. In the laboratory is a balance-room, a
number of fumed closets for testing purposes, and a dark room.
Separate benches for the students are fitted in this room, the tops
of which are of teak to obviate as far as possible the action of
chemicals. Separate sinks are fitted in the benches, and they waste
effluents from these benches are carried through glass-lined pipes
into the yard. The bottoms of the fumed closets are lined with slate
and glass, and in addition are fitted with flues built in the wall,
which discharges into the open air.
The whole of the fittings of the laboratory are of the most approved
and up-to-date style. The room is exceedingly well lighted by a
number of windows on the south side, and special attention has also
been paid to the ventilation. Throughout the entire building the
rooms are LARGE AND AIRY, much attention having been directed to the
provision of plenty of light and pure fresh air.
The chemistry lecture hall, which is divided from the laboratory by
the preparation room, can be enlarged by the removal of a glass
screen, so as to include classroom No. 1. The floor of the room is
of pitch pine with a bitumen preparation laid between the pitch pine
and the concrete to prevent dampness. The lecture ¬room is designed
for 50 students, but with the addition of classroom No. 1 nearly 80
students can be accommodated. On the right of the entrance hall are
classrooms Nos. 2 and 3, which have a glazed brick dado to a height
of 3ft. 6in. all round. They are well lighted and ADMIRABLY
VENTILATED. Provision is made for 24 students in each room.
 The
oak desks are of the single type, with a locker for materials. A
corridor on the right of the entrance halls leads to the boys'
lavatories, which are equipped with all the latest conveniences.
From the main corridor a flight of concrete stairs leads down to the
basement hall. In the basement is a large workshop fitted with
twenty joiners' benches.
The heating throughout is by hot water on the low pressure system.
The rooms in the basement are well lighted by windows, an area
having been left so that the grounds do not affect the light. Two
large rooms, at present unused, have been extended, so that if
necessary classes in plumbing or electricity may be held. In
addition there is a large room that may be used as a gymnasium.
There is a separate entrance to all the rooms in the basement from
the large yard at the rear of the Technical School.
From the entrance hall a. flight of concrete stairs lead to the'
rooms on the second floor. The staircase window is of very chaste
design. The Lancashire red rose has been introduced into the margin
and side lights with fine tinted amber and Cathedral muffled glass
as a filling in. The window is very finely arched, and is quite a
feature of the staircase. This window lights both staircases and
part of the corridors.
To the right on the second floor is the large WELL ARRANGED COOKERY
ROOM 41ft. 6in. by 22ft. 6in., which is designed for 31 working
students. There are three workers' tables in the centre of the room
with a long table alongside the South wall. At one end of the room
is a fine, large cooking range with gas cookers on each side. In a
recess 12ft. by 7ft. 3in. are sinks, plate racks and cupboards. This
room also possesses a glazed dado 3ft. 6in. high.
In this room great care has been taken with the ventilation and the
fumes of the gas are carried through pipes in the walls. Classroom
No. 4 adjoins the cookery room, and it will accommodate 25 students.
It is well lighted having windows on two sides, and is lined with a
dado similar to the cookery room.
The room is fitted with cupboards for dressmaking and millinery
purposes. Adjoining the room is a stove which may be used by the
dressmaking, millinery, or cookery students. From the 6ft. 6in.
corridor opens the large art room, which is 43 feet by 28 feet 6in.
This room has an open roof, and is well lighted by two large
skylights and several windows on the East and North sides. The floor
of the art room is fireproof, having a. course of bitumen between
the boards and the concrete.
 The
arrangement of the ART ROOM has been admirably carried out by Mr. J.
W. Clegg, the teacher of art. The prin¬ciple that the human figure
is perfection in art has been recognised, and the art room has been
furnished accordingly. Students will be taught to draw the human
figure in all its stages, anatomical and physiological. Several
casts of Greek sculpture are included in the furnishings - the Venus
de Milo, the Discobolus of Myra, a Gladiator, the Dancing Faun, a
Metope of the Parthenon, Athens, by Phidius (one of the Elgin
marbles), and a Hercules from the bronze in the British Museum.
There are also a large number of casts of a decorative char¬acter.
Whilst dealing with the art room it may be mentioned that the
photogravures of the work of 24 English artists have been hung in
the corridors and rooms, these being:-"Hope" (Watts), "Sun of Venice
going to sea" (Turner), "Age of Innocence" (Reynolds), "King
Cophetua" (Burne-Jones), "Christ and Peter" (Madox Brown), "Portrait
of Carlyle" (Whistler), "Dante's Dream" (Rossetti), "Echo and
Narcissus" (Waterhouse), "St. Bartholomew" (Millais), "The Sea gave
up its dead" (Leighton), "Light of the World" (Hunt), "Forest Oaks"
(Waterlow), "Spaniels" (Landseer), "Israel in Egypt" (Poynter),
"Pastoral" (C. Lawson), "Death's Door" (W. Blake), "No. 19" (H.
Holbein), "Proserpine" (Sandys), "The Glebe Farm" (Constable),
"Trafalgar" (Stansfield), and "Oliver Cromwell" (Lely). A portrait
of Matthew Arnold also adorns the walls.
Adjoining the art room is the teachers' room with a lavatory
attached. On this floor also are the girls' lavatories and
cloak-rooms, divided from the teachers' room by a caretaker's room.
A new feature has been introduced in the division of the lavatories
and cloak-rooms by a thin concrete breeze partition, the face of the
breeze being finished in the usual way. The grounds outside have
been tastefully laic out and planted with shrubs and trees.
THE SUB-CONTRACTORS.
The sub-contractors for the various work at the Technical School
are:-Plumbing painting and glazing, Messrs. Marsden Preston;
plastering, Mr. T. Walker, Black pool; fireproof work Mr. Robt.
Rayner, Manchester ; tarrizzo work, Messrs. Patterson Manchester;
tiling, Messrs. Williams, Manchester laboratory and other fittings
Messrs. Greenhalgh, Warrington; electric lighting, H. Leake and Co.,
St.Annes; fire places, Messrs. Gill and Read, St. Annes furnishing,
Messrs. J. Heywood and Co Manchester; iron railings, Messrs.
Cunliffe and Dean, Manchester; grounds, H. Heptin¬stall, St. Annes;
ventilation, Messrs. Har¬grave, Bury.
THE LUNCHEON.
Coun. Thompson entertained Sir Henry Hibbert and other guests to
Luncheon at the Grand Hotel. The invited guests were: Coun.
Thompson, J.P., who presided; Sir Henry Hibbert, Miss Hibbert, Rev.
H. E. Butler (Vicar of St.Annes), His Worshipful the Mayor of
Blackpool (Conn. S. Hill), J.P., Mr. Thos. Loftos (Town Clerk of
Blackpool), Mr. Jas. S. Fair, J.P. (County Council representative
for Lytham and St. Annes), Mr. Harcourt E. Clare (Clerk Lancashire
County Council), Mr. Thos Bradley (Clerk St. Annes Council), Coun.
R. H. Irving (Chairman Higher Education Committee), Coun. S. L.
Stott, J.P., Mr. H. Littler (County Architect), Dr. Snape (Director
of Education, Lane. C.C.), Mr. W. Wilson (Secretary Higher Education
Committee, 'Lancashire C.C.), Mr. Mr. N. Thompson (St. Annes), Ald.
Cunliffe, J.P., Rochdale, Mr. J. Hamer, Rochdale, Dr. Smith, West
Kirby, Mr. Gen. Webb, Bury (Chairman, St. Annes Land and Building
Company), Couns. T. Ferguson, H. D. Rothwell, J. Hallam, N.
Walmsley, J. Whiteside, A. England, and J. E. Stonex; Mr. W.
Shorrock (contractor), and Mr. Jas. Bowman (senior teacher,
Technical School.
The menu was as follows, the dainty viands being served' in Mrs.
Holloway's best style: Oysters. Turtle Soup. Mayonnaise of lobster.
Sirloin of beef. Saddle of Mutton. Pigeon Pies. Spaced beef. Surrey
fowls. York ham. Braised tongues. Sherry Jelly. Strawberry Cream.
Apple tarts. French pastry. Dessert.
SUCCESS TO THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
 Coun.
Thompson, who presided, submitted the toast of "The King," following
which Coun. R. H. Irving (Chairman of the Higher Education
Committee) proposed "Success to the Technical School." It seemed to
him somewhat novel to be proposing success to the new Technical
School when they considered that some thirty years ago or more they
were laying the foundation-stone of the Hotel, which was the first
building in the district. Now they had provided an up-to-date
Technical School, one, they would admit, which reflected great
credit upon the architect (Mr. Littler), the contractor, and all
concerned. (Hear, hear).
The County Council had imposed upon St.Annes A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY;
they had entrusted them with the first Technical School they bad
erected, "and," added the speaker, "We intend to make that school a
great success." (Hear, hear). They had been labouring for some years
under disadvantages. They had attained some little success under
those circumstances, but they had now bright and lofty rooms, and
they thought that with the efforts they were making and those they
intended to make that St.Annes would stand out, not only as a great
health resort but as a great educational resort as well. (Hear,
hear). It was true they had no industries in the town. They built
people's health up; when they were broken down in health they gave
them a new lease of life. They had been trying to improve the raw
material, and they recognised that the great difficulty had been,
when they had treated the raw material, how to continue it
afterwards. These Technical Schools which were springing up in
different parts of the country were intended to complete what had
been done in the elementary stages. He hoped they would carry on,
very successfully, these continuation classes and so fit those
living in the town to participate, and go forth, not only
well-equipped' constitutionally, but well ¬equipped mentally. One
recognized in these days that the more efficient we were the more
able we were to combat the invasion of nations, and it was the great
end of all communities to truly educate in the broadest and' fullest
extent possible the young people and men of our day. (Applause).
 Sir
Henry Hibbert responded to the toast, and said there was a need of
Technical education because the education of a boy or girl was not
finished after leaving the elementary school. He had had cases
brought before his notice where boys had had the benefit of a good,
sound education who had not been able to pass the entrance
examination into a secondary school because numberless subjects
which were of intense importance to them, had been neglected in that
public school; and therefore there was a very great need of the
opportunity of
CONTINUED EDUCATION.
The question of finance provided another reason why a Technical
School had been erected in St.Annes. The ratepayers in that and
neighbouring localities paid their rates and naturally said: "If we
want a little more education for our children why should we have to
send them on the railway train, sometimes at a very great cost?" It
was true that was not an industrial population, but the sole purpose
of education was not to make money, and there were subjects which
could be taught which would be of incalculable importance in after
life. Without dilating further on the reasons for the erection of
the school he would at once say the school was necessary, and he was
very glad indeed that it was being opened that day. (Hear, hear).
They owed it, probably, to their Town Clerk. Had it not been for the
persistency of Mr. Bradley in sitting on the doorstep of the "L.G.B."
they would not have got at Technical School, at all events, for
several years. (Applause). Coun, Stott, J.P., proposed "The
Lancashire County Council." When he (Conn. Stott) spoke four years
ago on the increase of the Poor Rate-it had doubled in two years-he
concluded that the County Council were spending too much money. It
was very nice for those who spent so long as they let other people
gather the money, and unfortunately, he, as an Overseer, was one of
the persons responsible for getting the money. And now he had got to
propose the welfare of the County Council and its success in
administration.
He had pleasure in proposing the toast. When one looked at the vast
amount of work carried on by the county Council, such as the main
roads, the policing of the County, and elementary and higher
education, he, must recognise that the expenses must be very heavy.
Looking at the finances of the County he found them in a MOST
HEALTHY CONDITION. Their receipts from all sources last financial
year were £1,600,000, and their payments amounted to £1,280,000,
which left a very substantial balance in hand. The income of the
County fund was £500,000 after allowing for the precepts from the
standing committees. He asked them now, as then practise economy.
Elementary education cost over half-a-million-£517,000-and had a
balance of £41,000, which was not whit too much to carry on the
work. Higher Education the receipts were £220 and they had a balance
in hand of £100,000.
NEW TECHNICAL SCHOOL,
[Photo, Mr. J. Whalley Ansdell. |
