Old Bluecoat School

SD5805NW 24-1/7/2

WIGAN BISHOPGATE (East side) Old Bluecoat School

24/10/51

GV II Church Little House, c.mid C18, later used by a charity school, and more recently as a garage/workshop then latterly as an exhibition room. The Bluecoat school was founded 1773, but the building appears earlier; reference is made in church accounts of 1743 to the 'Church Little House', which is thought to be this building. It was probably restored in C19, remodelled and reduced from 2 storeys since 1951. Coursed sandstone rubble, slate roof. Now a single cell with canted outshut to rear.

EXTERIOR: Gabled single-storey 2-window facade to Bishopgate, symmetrical, with square-headed doorway (now blocked with stone) flanked by mullioned 2-light windows, all these openings with double-chamfered surrounds and hood-moulds; double-chamfered lancet in gable above (now ventilator). 2-window right-hand (south) side has former left window enlarged as garage doorway but now filled by a modern door, and to the right a cross-window, both these openings with hood-moulds; and a blocked cellar window below the latter. Rear gable has extruded chimney; outshut has cross-window in east end.

INTERIOR: Fixed to the interior of the eastern gable wall is the timber frame of one bay of a (probably) C15 house, formerly at No.76 Standishgate (not included). The frame incorporates a 4-centred arched doorway and chevron patterning. King post truss to the roof.

Forms part of important group centred on Church of All Saints (qv).

Listing NGR: SD5813005673