Lady Barn House School
Encyclopedia
Lady Barn House School is an independent primary school on Schools Hill in Cheadle, Greater Manchester
, (previously in Cheshire
before the county boundaries were changed). It was originally in Fallowfield
, Manchester, but moved to its present location in the 1950s. It was founded in 1873 by W. H. Herford who was also the first headteacher.
The school was founded in 1873 by William Henry Herford (1820–1908), erstwhile tutor to Lord Byron’s grandson. Herford had been born in Coventry but moved to Manchester in 1822; he practised the Unitarian ministry from 1848–1854 and again at the Upper Brook Street Chapel from 1866–1870. The school represented the desire of Herford to put into practice the ideals promoted by Froebel and Pestalozzi
. Herford, “a pioneer in dark days”, had witnessed the innovative teaching techniques employed in Switzerland and
Germany. This experience of comparative education instilled in him a desire to
reform the methods practised in England. Another influence on Herford was Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg
. "The Day School for Boys and Girls" began in an unidentified house on Wilmslow Road, Withington, on 18 April 1873, and within a few years moved to Lady Barn House nearby which gave the school its name. In its early years the school was strongly supported by the German community of Manchester: 111 pupils joined the school in the first 10 years and 42 of them had German names.
1873–1904
Lady Barn opened with nine pupils and for a considerable period its future was
tenuous, nevertheless, a kindergarten
was added for children under six years in
1878. In its early years Fallowfield formed part of Withington (from 1894 administered by the Withington Urban District Council) but was absorbed into the city of Manchester in 1904. By the year 1904, the roll revealed a school of about seventy boys and girls. One of the controversial but cardinal principles of the school was its active promotion of co-education. Many of the educational experts of the time disagreed with the concepts of boys and girls being educated together. Indeed, the belief held was that to exact the same amount of work from girls as from boys must unduly strain the powers of the female sex! Those responsible for the school harboured no doubts as to the efficiency and value of this mode of educational instruction. Miss Herford stated in the early 1900s “that the presence of boys and girls in every class has been a stimulus to good work in both teacher and taught”. The effectiveness and impact of the contribution by Lady Barn to the district was clearly demonstrated by the impetus it gave to the establishment of a prominent girls’ secondary school. It was at a meeting held in the drawing room of Lady Barn that it was decided to found Withington Girls' School
(founded 1890).
1904–present
C. P. Scott
, the editor of The Manchester Guardian, was chairman of the board of governors from 1904 to 1934. In 1922 Miss C. M. Jenkin Jones became the new headmistress and remained in the post until 1960 when she resigned on grounds of ill health (from the 1930s to 1960 she was also the proprietor). For three years during the Second World War the school was evacuated to Great Budworth
in Cheshire. The University of Manchester provided some financial support for the school for about ten years from 1935 and used it in their teacher training courses. In the 1950s the school was moved to Ashdale, Cheadle, Cheshire. On Miss Jones's retirement she generously transferred ownership of the school to the other directors who then became trustees. During the tenure of the next headmistress, Miss B. Noakes, the school moved to Langlands in 1961.
Cheadle, Greater Manchester
Cheadle is a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in Greater Manchester, England. It borders the districts of Cheadle Hulme, Gatley, Heald Green and Cheadle Heath in Stockport, and the East Didsbury area of Manchester. As of 2001 it had a population of 14,261.-Early history:There has...
, (previously in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
before the county boundaries were changed). It was originally in Fallowfield
Fallowfield
Ladybarn is the part of Fallowfield to the south-east. Chancellors Hotel & Conference Centre is used by the University of Manchester: it was built by Edward Walters for Sir Joseph Whitworth, as were the Firs Botanical Grounds.-Religion:...
, Manchester, but moved to its present location in the 1950s. It was founded in 1873 by W. H. Herford who was also the first headteacher.
History
FoundationThe school was founded in 1873 by William Henry Herford (1820–1908), erstwhile tutor to Lord Byron’s grandson. Herford had been born in Coventry but moved to Manchester in 1822; he practised the Unitarian ministry from 1848–1854 and again at the Upper Brook Street Chapel from 1866–1870. The school represented the desire of Herford to put into practice the ideals promoted by Froebel and Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi
Pestalozzi may refer to:* Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi * Hans A. Pestalozzi Schools with that name:* Colegio Pestalozzi, Argentina* Pestalozzi-Gymnasium Biberach, Germany* Kinderdorf Pestalozzi, Switzerland...
. Herford, “a pioneer in dark days”, had witnessed the innovative teaching techniques employed in Switzerland and
Germany. This experience of comparative education instilled in him a desire to
reform the methods practised in England. Another influence on Herford was Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg
Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg
Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg was a Swiss educationist and agronomist.-Biography:He was born at Bern. His father was of patrician family, and a man of importance in his canton, and his mother was a granddaughter of the Dutch admiral Van Tromp...
. "The Day School for Boys and Girls" began in an unidentified house on Wilmslow Road, Withington, on 18 April 1873, and within a few years moved to Lady Barn House nearby which gave the school its name. In its early years the school was strongly supported by the German community of Manchester: 111 pupils joined the school in the first 10 years and 42 of them had German names.
1873–1904
Lady Barn opened with nine pupils and for a considerable period its future was
tenuous, nevertheless, a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
was added for children under six years in
1878. In its early years Fallowfield formed part of Withington (from 1894 administered by the Withington Urban District Council) but was absorbed into the city of Manchester in 1904. By the year 1904, the roll revealed a school of about seventy boys and girls. One of the controversial but cardinal principles of the school was its active promotion of co-education. Many of the educational experts of the time disagreed with the concepts of boys and girls being educated together. Indeed, the belief held was that to exact the same amount of work from girls as from boys must unduly strain the powers of the female sex! Those responsible for the school harboured no doubts as to the efficiency and value of this mode of educational instruction. Miss Herford stated in the early 1900s “that the presence of boys and girls in every class has been a stimulus to good work in both teacher and taught”. The effectiveness and impact of the contribution by Lady Barn to the district was clearly demonstrated by the impetus it gave to the establishment of a prominent girls’ secondary school. It was at a meeting held in the drawing room of Lady Barn that it was decided to found Withington Girls' School
Withington Girls' School
Withington Girls' School is an independent day school in Fallowfield, Manchester, United Kingdom, providing education for girls between the ages of seven and eighteen. Withington Girls' School is a member of the Girls' Schools Association and a MyDaughter school. Withington is consistently ranked...
(founded 1890).
1904–present
C. P. Scott
C. P. Scott
Charles Prestwich Scott was a British journalist, publisher and politician. Born in Bath, Somerset, he was the editor of the Manchester Guardian from 1872 until 1929 and its owner from 1907 until his death...
, the editor of The Manchester Guardian, was chairman of the board of governors from 1904 to 1934. In 1922 Miss C. M. Jenkin Jones became the new headmistress and remained in the post until 1960 when she resigned on grounds of ill health (from the 1930s to 1960 she was also the proprietor). For three years during the Second World War the school was evacuated to Great Budworth
Great Budworth
Great Budworth is a civil parish and village, approximately north of Northwich, England, within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It lies off the A559 road, east of Comberbach, northwest of Higher Marston and southeast of Budworth Heath...
in Cheshire. The University of Manchester provided some financial support for the school for about ten years from 1935 and used it in their teacher training courses. In the 1950s the school was moved to Ashdale, Cheadle, Cheshire. On Miss Jones's retirement she generously transferred ownership of the school to the other directors who then became trustees. During the tenure of the next headmistress, Miss B. Noakes, the school moved to Langlands in 1961.
Headteachers
- William Henry Herford 1873–1886
- Miss Caroline Herford 1886–1907
- Miss Beard 1907–1915
- Miss R. H. Rees 1915–1917
- Miss I. Lawrence 1917–1922
- Miss C. M. Jenkin Jones 1922–1960
- Miss B. Noakes 1960–1970
- Mr. E. J. Bonner 1970–2002
- Mrs. S. Yule 2002–2011
- Mrs. S. Marsh 2011–Present
Notable former pupils
- Siegfried HerfordSiegfried HerfordSiegfried Herford was a British climber who was active in the years immediately prior to World War I. He and John Laycock and Stanley Jeffcoat initiated what is referred to as "gritstone climbing" in England, bouldering on large blocks at the base of the cliffs, and roping up to climb the edges...
(1891–1916), climber - Major-General John Hay BeithJohn Hay BeithMajor General John Hay Beith, CBE , from Edinburgh, Scotland, was a schoolmaster and soldier, and, under the pen name Ian Hay, a novelist and playwright.-Background:...
(Ian Hay) (1876–1952), novelist and dramatist - Marghanita LaskiMarghanita LaskiMarghanita Laski was an English journalist, radio panellist and novelist: she also wrote literary biography, plays and short stories.- Personal life :...
(1915–1988), writer - Caroline Lejeune (1897–1973), critic
- Beryl ReidBeryl ReidBeryl Elizabeth Reid, OBE was a British actress of stage and screen.-Early life:Born in Hereford, England in 1919, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in Manchester where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools.-Career:Reid applied for and was accepted in a revue in...
(1920–1996), comedienne and actress - Kathleen OllerenshawKathleen OllerenshawDame Kathleen Mary Ollerenshaw, née Timpson, DBE is a British mathematician and politician. Deaf since the age of eight, she loved doing arithmetic problems as a child. As a young woman, she attended St Leonards School and Sixth Form College in St Andrews, Scotland where today the house of young...
(Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw), (born 1912), mathematician and councillor
Further reading
- Hicks, William Charles R. (1936) Lady Barn House and the Work of W. H. Herford. Manchester: Manchester University Press
- Lejeune, C. A. (1964) Thank You for Having Me; chap. 2: A very odd school indeed. London: Hutchinson