The Old Academy

The Old Academy is a brick building dating from 1757 or earlier, originally constructed to train candidates for the Nonconformist ministry. It was transferred to a larger building in 1762 and dissolved in 1783. The building is now empty. It has a slate roof, one end of which has been clipped, and a wood eaves cornice. The structure is three storeys high. The original features include a six-panel door and a detached porch with Roman Doric columns and a flat roof. There are four restored sash windows on the ground floor and five on the upper floors, with stone sills and some stone lintels. The interior, which has not been inspected, is reported to contain an original staircase, doors, and two-panelled rooms, one of which has some decorative plasterwork. Distinguished tutors included Joseph Priestley, John Aikin, Gilbert Wakefield, and possibly Marat; notable students included Josiah Wedgwood’s eldest son, Malthus.