The building which in 1923 became St Gregory’s Central School, housed an educational establishment of a different kind prior to that date – namely a Ragged and Industrial School. In fact, it started its life quite differently as a home for waifs and strays.

Victorian Manchester was a thriving and busy industrial city, with a rapidly growing population accompanied by all manner of social problems. One such problem concerned the number of children on the streets, some of whom were homeless and destitute while others were bordering on a life of crime, vice and ‘every thing wicked’. Thousands of pounds of property were stolen annually in Manchester by the criminal classes, and citizens and the property-owning classes were quite rightly concerned. The city fathers, and many women, regarded Manchester as a civilised place and set about the task of taking steps to help the young ‘waifs and strays’ blighting the streets. The feeling was that it was better to reform than to punish. The noble and the learned, the philanthropists and the businessmen, the clergy and professionals, men and women – all were filled with a selfless and Christian sense of duty and endeavoured to raise funds and work towards keeping vulnerable youngsters away from a life of crime. What followed was an example of Victorian civic responsibility and duty towards those individuals who were not as fortunate as others. The idea in the first place was to remove these youngsters and place them in an institution. A committee was established and work began.

To this end the first Manchester Juvenile Refuge and School of Industry was founded in 1846 at Nelson Street, Angel Meadow, Manchester. In 1851, it relocated to premises at St John’s Parade, Byrom Street, and by 1853 had changed its name to the Manchester Ragged and Industrial Schools.

Move to Ardwick Green, 1857

With an increase in the number of children to be provided for, larger premises were needed; to this end a house and grounds were purchased at Ardwick Green for £2,000. This house had been the home of John Rylands, the Manchester merchant and cotton manufacturer, and it is interesting to recall the decision to purchase the house on the part of the committee responsible for the Ragged and Industrial Schools. At a meeting held on the premises in February 1857, it was unanimously resolved: “That after viewing the property we are of the opinion, that the land and premises are admirably adapted for the purpose of a Ragged School.” (A “Ragged” school, by the way, had been the name given to charity schools that provided education and, in most cases, food, clothing and lodging for destitute children.) The purchase took place and the school was “certified” on 8th April 1857, followed by a period of adaptation and extension work. Here, it was intended to provide lodging, maintenance, instruction, and industrial occupation for up to 100 young persons, and instruction, occupation and food for up to 200 children (both boys and girls).  On 17th September of that year the transfer of children from St John’s Parade occurred.

New Wing

In the autumn of 1857, the committee commenced canvassing for funds for the erection of a proposed new wing  to the building which would contain certain workshops, a schoolroom and dormitory. The public responded liberally to the appeal and the new wing, comprising three storeys, was erected. It was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect famous for designing many of the country’s most interesting public and civic buildings such as the Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Assize Courts, Strangeways Gaol, London’s Natural History Museum as well as Manchester’s Owens College.

The new wing was that part attached to John Rylands’ former house and faced Ardwick Green Park. Waterhouse, who was based in Manchester and was also a member of the committee, was praised by the committee for successfully carrying out the project.

It was reported that many tradesmen, who had not given money donations to the building, had kindly contributed labour and materials in various ways. Almost the whole of the internal fittings and ornaments had been the willing gifts of benevolent tradesmen.

The Governor’s Report at the end of 1858 stated that: “During the process [of workpeople erecting the new building] the boys have been occupied, more or less, as assistants in the work…children helped with the work – dressing bricks, carrying timber, grinding tools, mixing mortar, riddling sand, paving, whitewashing &c. &c. all which operations they performed at a considerable saving to the funds of the Institution.”

It was hoped there would be accommodation for 300 children at a cost of £12 per head assessed against the outlay of the committee. This was considered very reasonable compared with the cost of prisons to the country, that is, at £200 per prisoner. 

Cost

The land and buildings, with the erection of the new wing with its fittings and so on, had cost above £4,000. The previously existing building afforded accommodation for 120 children, with dormitories for 20; as now extended, it could accommodate 300, with dormitories for 100. The premises were said to be “altogether lofty and airy, and substantially though plainly fitted with everything necessary for the training and feeding of the children. There were at present 120 scholars, of whom 20 slept on the premises”.

Previous  Next