MOST people will remember this building in Great Moor Street as the former County Grammar School, or later part of Bolton Institute, which is now being converted into apartments for town-centre living.
However, the back of this 1907 picture called it the "Bolton Teachers' Centre", although I can find no further reference to this. To trace its development, though, we must go back to the days when the Albert Place Higher Grade School was opened in 1882 as the first of its kind in the district. These premises were soon considered inadequate, and in 1888 a move was made to Clarence Street; only nine years later the Great Moor Street school opened, where 1,080 pupils could be accommodated, in a building described as having "no pretensions to beauty". In was known at the time as the Central Higher Grade School, and then the Municipal Secondary School, before coming a Grammar. In 1966, pupils moved into "their new bright and modern premises at Breightmet."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article