Heald Wesleyan School

Class 1904

Until 1829 there was neither school or chapel in the vicinity of  Heald and so anyone wishing to partake of public worship or learning had to go into Bacup. About this time a number of  young men anxious to improve their learning began to meet together assisting each other in obtaining the first elements of education. They had no religious object in view and were only concerned with improving their general education with regards to reading and writing. Their first meeting place was at the home of  William Clegg, of Old Clough. It occurred to these young men that it would be a better plan to open their school for all the children in the area. James Ashworth of Newkin End was the first to have any influence over the young men and influenced them to open the cottage which they used for a Sunday school.

James Maden Esq of Greens, uncle to James Maden Holt Esq, M.P,  was the landlord and owner of   Corner dye also  known as the Irwell Springs dye works, was approached and asked if they could use a cottage at corner, gaining his approval the cottage rooms soon became overcrowded. The school at corner continued to be conducted by churchmen, Baptists, and Methodists but sectarian animosities caused friction. Mr Maden showed a lively interest in his tenants welfare and in 1832 built and furnished a convenient school house offering it rent free for the benefit of the neighbourhood. By 1835 the school had fallen into the teaching hands of the Methodists, the number of teachers at this time being 48 and in addition to these twelve helpers came over from Bacup to help in the teaching.

Among these were John and Edward Dawson, James Maden, and Henry Hoyle, all local preachers. Thomas Disley and John Howorth of Lane Head Lane. Following the death of Mr Maden, Miss Maden after the erection of the new Methodist chapel and school built in 1868 handed over the old  school to the trustees who sold it for £50.00 adding it to the trust funds for their new chapel. Heald Board School Built in 1868 for 314 children Headmaster Frank Mitchell average attendance 142.

Extract from school log book

April 1880

 Fears of epidemic hitting school.

Extract from log book June 1880

Jane Dickinson and Lord Blezard down with Scarlatina.