Boarding school at Gainford Durham

[RustyFairy]

No, there were two schools, Gainford Academy and then St Peter's School, This is from The Northern Echo archives:

THERE was mention earlier of St Peter's School, the derelict remains of which a Teesdale policeman says "cast a dark shadow over the village in more ways than one".

Indeed they do. It is quite incredible that this vast hulk of crumbling brickwork, on the edge of "the Queen of Durham villages", should have been allowed to become such an eyesore for so very long.

The school was built by the Catholic church in about 1900 as an orphanage for 300 boys. As Echo Memories reported in 2002, 120 Basque children - refugees from the Spanish Civil War - were homed there in 1937. After the war, it became an approved school, which closed in 1984.

Part of it was subsequently used as a nursing home, but that closed last century and, since then, the building's hulk has decayed more and more, casting a dark shadow over the village.

[stanmapstone]

St. Peter's Catholic Orphanage opened in 1901. No doubt there was a school in the orphanage, but it was listed as an orphanage not a school. The approved school was long after the time of the original enquiry.
Stan

[RustyFairy]

Oh well, there's me told - I'll slap my wrists and read the post for the date next time 

[stanmapstone]

For the full story of St. Peter's Home see http://www.stosmundschurchgainford.org.uk/history/parish.html

Stan

[brimarge]

Hi K,

This is my 1st look through this Durham Roots chat, I don't know if you found the info you were looking for but I can tell you that 13 North Terrace, in Gainford was at one time in late 19th c joined with the house next door and it was a school.

The reason I know this is that no 13 was the 1st house that My wife and I bought in 1970, it had 11 rooms + out buildings + cellar. The attic rooms still had servant bell pulls.

We bought it because it was all we could afford, no one else wanted it at the time it had been empty for 2 years and needed a lot of work.

Brian 

[cmturnbull]

Hi,

If you would like to contact me direct I have some info on the school which I could photocopy and send on to you.

mim

My Grandfather was FE Bowman and his Grandfather founded Gainford Academy in 1819. I would be very interested to read the information that you have if this is possible.

[nijinski1]

Hi,

This may be of assistance to you:

A History Of The Academy And Montalbo Building
1818 - 1900
1818 Rev. William Bowman (Congregational Minister) founded
the Academy School in two houses facing The Green (later
these houses would accommodate St. Colettes School and
then the Doctor's Surgery (Dr. W. Neville).
1825 He sold the Hotel (Pub)
1848 He bought back the Hotel for £415.
 The publican at that time was Jeremiah Whitfield.
 At the same time Charles Tennick (a man of many trades)
bought the alleyway through to Back Lane.
1855 Rev. William Bowman died, he was succeeded by his son,
also named William and also a Minister.
 He disposed of the Bay Horse Hotel.
1873 William Bowman reacquired the Bay Horse building
which by this time was a private dwelling and thereupon
built the present Academy building on the site.
 The school was now a very successful concern. It owned cottages in Chapel Terrace and Back Lane
where masters and other staff were housed. It also had over six acres of playing fields.
 Famous pupils included - Stan Laurel (real name Stanley Jefferson), Lord Joicey, J.M. Dent
(Publisher), M.P's Joseph Dodds, and Thomas McKnight. Many pupils gained scholarships to
Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities.
1883 Barnard Castle School opened and this brought about a
decline in enrolment at the Academy School, Gainford.
1893 William Bowman (Junior) died.
1899 Son Frederick Bowman moved the declining school to two
houses in North Terrace (No. 13 & 14) where it functioned
until the First World War period.
 Charles Tennick (owner of the alleyway) purchased the
vacated property - advertised the present hall as
Coronation Hall (Edward VII - 1901) seating 300 people
for public assemblies.
Brian Blackburn
Part two of the history of The Academy and Montalbo Building
from 1905-1976 will be published next month in the July magazine.
Montalbo Rooms:
now Gainford Village Hall
Copy of an old poster dated 1868
promoting The Gainford Academy School
PRINCIPALS:
REV. W. BOWMAN,
 J. SELKIRK CHARLES, B.A., LL.B. (LOND.).
SECOND MASTER:
MB. ALFRED G.,BOWMAN (University of Glasgow),
WITH AN EFFICIENT STAFF OF RESIDENT MASTERS.
The regular School Course provides instruction in ENGLISH,
FRENCH, and LATIN LANGUAGES and LITERATURE;in
MATHEMATICS, CHEMISTRY, and BOTANY (or some other
branch of NATURAL SCIENCE); and in DRAWlNG.
GERMAN may be taken instead of Latin. GREEK is taught
only to those reading for the Universities.
In the case of boys who are backward, special arrangements are
made for them to devote all their time to English subjects alone ( if
desired).
Pupils intended for Business or for Agricultural Pursuits have
special lessons, the former in Book-keeping, the latter in Land
Surveying and kindred subjects.
The CLASS ROOMS. are five in number, all well-ventilated and
fitted with the latest improvements.
There are Cricket and Croquet Grounds. a Fives Court, a
Reading Club, a Library, and Bath Rooms.
TERMS FOR BOARD AND TUITION:
PREPARATORY SCHOOOL 30 Guineas per Annum
 MIDDLE SCHOOL 35 “ “
 UPPER SCHOOL 40 “ “
 WASHING 3 “ “
The above Terms are inclusive for Board and Tuition, the only
Extra being Instrumental Music .
A PROSPECTUS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SCHOOL
GAINFORD July 1868PARISH NEWS JULY 2006

Very best wishes to you

Tony

[hanes teulu]

Advertisement in the Newcastle Courant, Fri 21 Jun 1839
CLASSICAL, COMMERCIAL and MATHEMATICAL ACADEMY, Gainford, near Darlington conducted by the Rev W Bowman on the following Terms
Board and Tuition in the Classics, Mathematics and the usual Branches of English education, Twenty Guineas per annum, Pupils above 12 years of age Twenty Three Guineas, Washing etc £2 10s
French, Drawing and Music on the usual Terms
N.B. - A quarter's notice is required previous to the removal of a Pupil. The School will reopen July 22, 1839.

No 6 week week summer holiday in those days!!

[barryd]

Arthur Stanley Jefferson (Stan Laurel) did attend the King James I Grammar School in Bishop Auckland and a statue of him was erected of him in Bishop Auckland. At one time he lived at Princes Street in Bishop Auckland. He must have done fairly well at the Gainford Academy to get into a Grammar School. Check the link below to see the outcome of the Academy.

http://www.thelaurelsgainford.co.uk/