Former technical school, Street

The Street Technical School was established in 1899. It included the art night class begun in 1871 in the reading room at Clarks’ factory which by 1891 also provided evening classes for Street and Walton leading to examinations.

In 1900 purpose-built premises, designed in a severe late Tudor style by William Reynolds, were opened in Leigh Road with 16 pupils. The two-storeyed building included a large lecture room, a carpenters’ shop, and a caretaker’s cottage. Evening classes included French, arithmetic, physiology, lacemaking, beekeeping, carving, and shorthand.

Automobile classes begun in 1935 were unsuccessful. By 1936 the school had 399 pupils. Students paid fees although members of the army training corps and others attended free of charge during the Second World War. In 1942 there were 155 pupils, 11 teachers, and German and shoemaking classes were available. Veterinary and horticultural studies had been added by 1953 when 429 students attended classes in 25 subjects.

The technical school closed in 1962 and students transferred to the new area college now known as Strode College, but day and evening classes continued at Leigh Road for a few years.