The Whitehaven News September 7, 1905 School Matters at Backbarrow

School Matters at Backbarrow

The Whitehaven News - September 7, 1905

SCHOOL MATTERS AT BACKBARROW.        The transfer of Browedge Endowed School from the present managers to the control of the Lancashire County Council is now an accomplished fact. The matter has been discussed from time to time, and protracted negotiations have taken place,  but the necessary documents  have now been signed and the institution is now a Council school.        For a considerable time past it has been apparent to the managers that the school could not continue to be successfully worked under the voluntary system. The position is a somewhat interesting one. The school was originally founded in 1685, and received it's first endowment in May of that year, from property bequeathed to the school by George BIGLAND, one of the forebears of the present BIGLAND family, of BIGLAND Hall, near Backbarrow. After that period the establishment received other benefactions, which brought a total sum of about fifty pounds a year; and this amount supplemented by the school pence of children in attendance, was sufficient in the earlier days of the schools history to maintain a good master.        With the advent of the Elementary Education Act of 1870 many important changes occurred, until the time came when absolutely free education was demanded and granted. When that happened, the income of the school, supplemented by grants allowed by the Board of Education, was found to be far below the expenditure, and it became necessary for the managers to ask for private subscriptions. That went on for a few years, but the school got into debt, and the overdraft at the bank a few years ago reached upwards of £130. The greater part of this debt was eventually cleared by means of voluntary rate, followed by a very successful rummage sale, held at Backbarrow, in aid of the school. The endowment, owing to the decreased value of land and buildings, has dwindled to some extent. The present rentals &c., bring in about £40 per annum, and by the provisions of the recent education act, under which the transfer is made, the income from this source will be allocated to the relief of the rates, in the area affected by the change.        The new arrangement  will involve a fresh appointment of managers, in addition to some other changes of administration. A special clause has been inserted in the agreement, by which the managers retain the use of the premises on Sundays for Church services, and Sunday School purposes.        The trustees for the endowment are the following gentlemen: Rev. T. C. KIRKHAM Lieut-Colonel AINSWORTH C. W. CAVENDISH, M. P. Samuel TAYLOR, J. P. B. STOREY James KIRKBY The present managers of the school are as follows: Rev. C. T. KIRKHAM S. TAYLOR (chairman) J. H. ELLWOOD, manager of Lowwood Gunpowder Works T. H. WALKER, station master, Haverthewaite Thomas WILKINSON, manager of the Leven Valley Co-operative stores John THOMPSON, farmer, Backbarrow Farm. ******

 

< Prev		Next >