Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request School on Old Chester Road (No's 197 & 195)

Hi again. Had lots of helpful info from my last request so back again for more!! My great grandfather went to a school in the 1870's in Old Chester Road, Birkenhead. I believe the school was at 197 and 195 Old Chester Road. Does anyone know anything about this school? Is there still a school there? I assume the school was in 2 houses, and I think my ancester was a boarder. I think the answer will be 'no' to this question but does anyone know if any records for the school have been kept anywhere? Any info/pointers very gratefully received. Regards Viv.

Hi Vivianne,You should find some results on here as a lot of members have a vast amount of local knowledge of places.If however you don`t find what you are looking for the wirral archives have information on schools of the past.

OK, I'll start the ball rolling and see if it helps anybody else (maybe even me).

Those numbers currently are somewhere around the Downham Road South junction (and on that side of the road), however there is not much around there on 1870s maps apart from a Wesleyian Chapel which disappeared later.

Sometime (before 1872) St Lukes Church was on the North East corner of what was later Mersey Park (park opened 1885) and this had a school behind it, this church was later amalgamated with St Pauls. I presume it was called St Lukes School.

Also found this ...

"I recently mentioned this topic to my father (83 years old and living in Wirral -
I live in Thailand) because this is in his childhood area. He told me that St. Lukes school was attached to St. Luke's church in Old Chester Road (a road in Lower Tranmere running parallel to the main Chester Road a couple of miles south of the town centre. He said that his father also went to the
school, probably in the 1880's. The school closed sometime in the 1920's and the church was pulled down sometime later, maybe in the 1950's."

Somewhere else mention 1971 for the Church being pulled down.

BUT note I cannot confirm the adress as 195/197 but I am working on that!

Thanks for your replies. I've just dug out Census info for 1871 and it looks like the school was probably close to Union St (higher numbers). Nearby on Union St a "Malvern Cottage" is listed. Not sure if this is helpful. Looks like the school was very, very small only 5 or 6 scholars! Headmaster's name Mr Thomas Saul.He lived there with his wife, one child, his brother & sister. As suggested also been in touch with Wirral Archives to see if they can turn up any info/documents etc. Regards Viv.

Hi, Viv; the period you're interested in was at a turning point in the history of education, with the first Education Act in 1870. I don't think that before that, education was compulsory, but there would have been lots of tiny schools, privately run & which would have charged. It sounds as if that school was one of those.

Cheers, Chris.

195 Old Chester Road
John Pountain (late of Derby) died aged 73 - Nov 28 1878

Spotted in passing, don't know if this is anything to do with your trail.

I think your Headmaster (Thomas Saul) was born 1836