Building record 1899/2 - Church Hall, Grammar School House and the Hearse House

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 55755 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Formerly grammar school, schoolmaster's house and hearse house, now church hall and two cottages: school 1666 founded by John Pickering, renovated 1845 for Rev Bowstead (Ormerod), much of remainder eighteenth century, including hearse house that was reconstructed here, after removal from next to south porch of church post 1791 (see plan in church). Some ashlar buff sandstone, remainder orange brick, Welsh slate roof and two brick chimneys. One and two storey ten-bay south front. Left end is former hearse house, partly in stone. Gable end has wide entrance with an arched lintel with a channelled key block. Two-bay brick structure next. Central three bays of former school with tall seventeenth century chamfered stone plinth. Remainder in brick with three three-light casements with glazing bars. Adjacent schoolmaster's house with casements with glazing bars and door, under segmental brick heads. Lower two-bay cottage at right end.

The celebrated penman John Thomasen (died 1740), transcriber for Queen Anne, was master here till his death, see memorial in south porch of church.

<2> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.314 (Book). SCH1389.

In this township is a school founded by John Pickering, merchant, of which Thomasen was once master. The present endowment consists of a house in which the master resides, and a house and land in the township of Tattenhall. The school is under the direction of twelve trustees, and open to twenty children, six of which are selected from the township of Tarvin, and the remainder from the other townships of the parish. Renovated in 1845.

<3> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 27/01/2022 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Closed 1939. Renovated 1997 and now used as parish rooms.

<4> Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E & Pevsner N, 2011, The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2011 revision), p.625 (Book). SCH7059.

Grammar school founded in 1666 and altered in 1845. The eighteenth century hearse house was originally attached to the church.