The Old College - Page 3

Mick · 19-01-2010, 08:38

Here you are these might bring a few memories back

The old Grammer school

jaysay · 19-01-2010, 09:32

I can remember back in the sixties that the trades section of Accrington college (sandy lane) was closed and transferred to Blackburn, I know at the time we were not to happy about this and talked to the Observer about it, but to no avail, we had to go to Blackburn

garinda · 19-01-2010, 10:09

Looking at the photographs reminds you what a fine, imposing building it was, and it seems such a shame part of the area's heritage was demolished.

garinda · 19-01-2010, 10:16

The Grammar School does have an old boys (& girls) website.

Accrington Grammar School Old Boys

Perhaps if anyone on here cares to join, or is already a member, they could mention this thread, and give a link to Accy Web, seeing as there's many mentions of the school, teachers, and ex-pupils.

(I can't join myself, as being a QEGS old boy, I'd risk getting virtually beaten up.)

Barrie Yates · 19-01-2010, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Where was the Accrington School of Art?

Was in in a separate building of it's own?

It was mentioned in this thread...
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...rose-4071.html

...and I've seen it mentioned in a few recent obituaries, and on some other sites.

Just re-reading Atarah's post in the linked thread, was the whole of the now demolished building, which I thought of as the Grammar School, once the Accrington School of Art & Craft?

I seem to remember that during my time at AGS, part of the Art School was on the top floor of the AGS but the main part was on College St.
I think the Tech College on Sandy Lane opened in '55/56 - in '56 they only did the lead in course for Electrical Engineering and then C & G Elect. For ONC/HNC you had to go to Blackburn or Burnley

jaysay · 19-01-2010, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

I seem to remember that during my time at AGS, part of the Art School was on the top floor of the AGS but the main part was on College St.
I think the Tech College on Sandy Lane opened in '55/56 - in '56 they only did the lead in course for Electrical Engineering and then C & G Elect. For ONC/HNC you had to go to Blackburn or Burnley

Does anybody know what was the place of learning prior to the opening of Sand Lane college?

Wynonie Harris · 19-01-2010, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

I seem to remember that during my time at AGS, part of the Art School was on the top floor of the AGS but the main part was on College St.

That's right, it was, we used to go up there and lust after the female students.

The light up there was supposed to be brilliant for painting. The Grammar School moved from the building in 1968, up to that soulless concrete block on Queens Road West (now demolished). After that, I think the building served as an all-purpose annexe for the college. Mrs H learnt English and typing there in the mid-80's.

Benipete · 19-01-2010, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

Does anybody know what was the place of learning prior to the opening of Sand Lane college?

My front room.

jaysay · 20-01-2010, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benipete

My front room.

Didn't realise you were that old Beni

Bob Dobson · 20-01-2010, 20:11

The Grammar School left Blackburn trd in 1968 to go up to Moorhead. I don't know what occupied the building after that - certainly the catering dept side of Accrington College of FE(?) However, before that the top floor of the building was used as an art school. It was linked with the one in Portland St/College Street. I have a list of the pupils in the 1930s made out by one of them. They included the world famous Gerard de Rose, who has been the subject of several postings & threads. I hope Garinda knows about him. The thought that it was inituially linked to the textile industry may be correct, as what became the Grammar school started out as a Technical School and the local industrialists were prominent in getting it started.
One very early pupil at the Technical School was the artist Leo Chaney who designed the Johnnie Walker whisky logo. It became the Grammar School in 1921 just after a new headmaster had taken over.

Bob Dobson · 20-01-2010, 20:17

I shall look into Garinda's suggestion. The website is

Welcome from the Headmaster

To fully use it, you have to register. The webmaster turned down 23 applications for registration one day recently. He suspects that they were from people wishing to sell pharmacutical products.

yerself · 21-01-2010, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Dobson

He suspects that they were from people wishing to sell pharmacutical products.

Probably QEGS OBs.

MoreJoe · 02-09-2010, 20:19

Most of the Grammar School top floor was occupied by art students from the late 50's to the early 60's. The Grammar school art room (featuring Alan Butcher) was the only classroom on the top floor used by Grammar School students. Some students used to cruise the other rooms in search of nude models etc. If they were caught by Alan Butcher they would be copying out articles from The Listener for days on end.

anzac · 02-09-2010, 22:00

I work at the "College of Knowledge" and worked at Eagle Street when it housed the Construction Department.
Only recently whilst we were clearing out some archive material I came across a book called The history of Technical Education in Accrington which was not a published book but seemed to be a labour of love by someone interested in the history.
Don't know how many copies were published but I have one here and will check out the information in it to see if it records anything about the questions asked on here

cashman · 02-09-2010, 22:05

hey anzac, owt on accy tech, actually on union rd ossy would be appreciated.