BOWDLER’s, OR THE BLUE SCHOOL,
Is situated in Beeches Lane, and is an oblong brick building, having in the centre a glazed cupola, surmounted by a flying dragon. It was founded in 1724, according to the will of Mr. Thomas Bowdler, alderman and draper, for the instruction, clothing, and apprenticing poor children of the parish of St. Julian.
Eighteen boys and 12 girls receive their education here, and attend service at St. Julian’s church on Sundays, to which church Mr. Bowdler was a great benefactor.—The number of scholars, from the increased value of the property belonging to the school, is about to be increased.
MILLINGTON’s SCHOOL & HOSPITAL.
This excellent institution and monument of private munificence stands on an eminence in the suburb of Frankwell, which commands an extensive prospect of the town, its churches, public buildings, and more distant views.
The building consists of a handsome pedimented front, with a stone portico, and two wings attached to the centre by a row of houses; the summit is crowned by a bell turret.
The chapel occupies the centre of the building, and contains a portrait of the founder. Adjoining are residences for the master and mistress of the school, and twelve houses for the resident hospitallers.
The foundation was endowed by Mr. James Millington, a draper, of Shrewsbury, and consists (according to his will) of a school-master and mistress with liberal salaries, and a chaplain, whose duty it is to read prayers every school day at nine o’clock in the morning. The scholars, &c. attend St. George’s church on Sundays.
Twelve poor men or women, chosen from the single parishioners living in Frankwell, or from the part of Saint Chad’s parish nearest to it, have each a comfortable dwelling consisting of two apartments, and a good garden, with two gowns, or coats, three tons of coal and ten guineas yearly, and two loaves of bread weekly. Gowns and coats, with £4 per annum and two loaves weekly, are given to ten poor single housekeepers resident in Frankwell, the four senior of which occupy two chambers each above the school rooms, and are removed according to seniority into the hospital when a vacancy occurs.
The school rooms are in the rear of the building, in which twenty-five boys and as many girls receive their education, with clothing twice a-year. At the age of fourteen the boys are apprenticed, and £10 given as a premium with each; previous to which they are well clothed, and on producing a certificate of good behaviour during apprenticeship, £5 is presented as a gratuity. The girls are allowed £3 for clothing on leaving the school, and, on behaving well, at the expiration of three years of their service receive £3 more.
A Sermon is annually preached in St. Chad’s church, on the 12th of August, according to the will of the founder, to commemorate his birth-day.
Two exhibitions of £40 a-year each are founded for students of St. Mary Magdalene College, Cambridge, eligible to those who have been originally scholars in the school and born in Frankwell, and educated at the Free Schools.
The charity is governed by fourteen trustees; and the revenues, by proper management, are considerable. Well may it be said, after reading this noble bequest—
“Behold what blessing wealth to life can lend.”