PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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The School's origins go back to May 1875 when The Devonport, Stoke and Stonehouse High School for Girls was established along the principles of the Girls' Public Day Schools Company in London. A local company was formed and it raised £5,000 in £5 shares quite quickly, which enabled them to erect their own building at the top of Albert Road, Stoke, adjacent to St Michael's Church. Built in the Tudor-Gothic style of architecture, to the designs of Mr H J Paul of London, the memorial stone was laid on Tuesday December 11th 1877 by Sir John St Aubyn, Bart., MP, who was chairman of the local council. It was built by Mr J P Berry of Plymouth at a cost of £6,000, exclusive of furnishings, and opened in 1878. In the basement was a large assembly or lecture hall, measuring 50 feet by 17 feet, along with a kindergarten room, 25 feet by 17 feet, two classrooms, two large lavatories, store rooms, furnace room and coal store. On the ground floor was the entrance hall, lobby and corridor leading to three large classrooms measuring 28 feet by 17 feet, 27 feet by 17 feet and 23 feet by 17 feet. In addition there was a large cloakroom of 25 feet by 17 feet, the headmistresses room, assistant-teachers' room and a WC. Up the stone stairs on the first floor were another three large classrooms, one of 29 feet by 17 and the other two of 25 feet by 17 feet each, plus two store rooms. Outside was a recreation ground of a third of an acre in extent, 'well enclosed and laid out'. The premises were held on a lease from the Lord St Levan, dated March 22nd 1879, for a term of 90 years from October 1st 1878. The ground rent was £35 per year. Lord St Levan was appointed chairman of the school governors, with Mr Joseph May senior, as the vice-chairman. The Headmistress in 1890 was Miss M M Hagg. In November 1895 the Company was voluntarily wound up and the liquidator, Mr Edward Blackall, offered the premises for sale by auction at the the Devonport Public Hall on Thursday December 12th 1895. The auctioneer was Mr W J Lamb. It was at first advertised as being available leasehold but Lord St Levan later gave permission for the site to be offered freehold for the sum of £683. Before the bidding started there was some discussion as to how the building could be extended if the freehold was purchased, as the lease stated that while the building could be extended to the east and west, the southern side must only be utilised as a lawn or playground. The bidding commenced at £2,000 and rose to £2,500 when it was again interrupted. Mr Littleton -- presumably the local builder by that name -- asked his Lordship's agent, Mr Willis, to say definitely if they could or could not build on the land to the south. Mr Willis was not prepared to make any statement about it. Bidding then resumed and continued in £100 jumps until £3,000 was reached, the highest bidder being Mr F J Bone. Whereupon, the auctioneer announced that as there was a reserve price of £4,900, he was withdrawing the premises from sale. The building was subsequently sold for £3,500 to Mr E S Lancaster, acting on behalf of Mr Alonzo Rider, of Stoke Public School, who promptly resigned from his post and set up Devonport High School for Boys in the building.
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