School in Oldfield, Dunham Massey

[northern_rose]

Can anyone tell me anything about a school in the hamlet of Oldfield, Dunham Massey? Or indeed where Oldfield is as multimap can't find it!

I have a friend's ancestors there on the 1851 census at HO 107/2162 pg 1.

[ricky1]

Hi Northern rose

Have you seen this

http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/dunhammassey.html

ricky

[northern_rose]

Ricky

Thanks for the link - must really apologise as I found this after posting - the area was obviously Oldfield Brow until the 1920's.

Does anyone know anything about a school in the 1850's.

My two boys were "living in" away from their parents and younger siblings who at the time were living at a pub on the Deansgate in the centre of Manchester.

[ricky1]

Hi Northern Rose
No need to apologize, carnt help with the school

ricky

[Reiver]

Hi Northern Rose
I think I know what you are looking for.

There are some local history books about Altrincham that refer to Oldfield House the school you are looking for.  However I've found the following site that gives quite a good summary of the history. The site is in fact a property developer's but I have absolutely no connection with them 

What they have done is develop the school which replaced Oldfield House.  You will see reference to it in the article.

http://www.holland-hall.co.uk/pdfs/simplygeomagazine/simply_geo_issue_3.pdf

To locate it go to www.old-maps.co.uk  and key the coordinates 375600 38840
This should bring you on top of Oldfield Brow.   Enlarge the map and you should see the text Oldfield House.

I think the blurb from the above gives the PostCode of Blakeswood.  You could use it to find the replacement school  on  www.streetmap.co.uk and whee the old school was.

I hope alll this makes sense.   However if it doesn't and you cannot  find anything let me know .

Regards
Reiver

PS There is/was an Oldfield Hall.   This is not what you are looking for 

[northern_rose]

I'm amazed by the help from fellow rootschatters! This is great.

It is also interesting to read the school was for "for the instruction of 40
boys aged 8 – 11 years who lived in Altrincham, Dunham, Bowdon and Hale" as when my two Hague brothers were there in 1851 their parents (who were born in Oldham and North Manchester) were living in central Manchester!

Will now look at the maps.

Thanks again

[northern_rose]

Looking at the maps I can see that Oldfield House was on School Lane!

Thanks again

[Reiver]

I'm deighted I could help.

I just may be able to find out a little more from a local historian.   But I don't want to push it.  Would you rather hold it at that point?  I know for instance that there is a lot to be said about Thomas Walton, the salt master who endowed the school.

I'll leave it quite happily unless you ask for more 

No answer required if you want me to hold off.

Regards
Reiver

[peterbennett]

Hi

    There was also a private school opened around the 1820's by Henry Race. It seems to be known as Harefield House in at least one of the census years, the Race family governed the school until around the mid 1860's when it seems to vanish from the census.

The 1828 Pigots Directory of Cheshire shows Henry Race schoolmaster of Oldfield ( boarding school for young gentlemen).

The 1860 Whites directory shows the school at Harefield House run by Anne Race + Mary and Ellen Race.

All the census years seem to show the majority of boarders as being from the Manchester area.

Hope this helps

peterbennett