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Salford Grammar School

Link to Old Salfordians

Gravel Lane The earliest record of a Grammar School in Salford dates back to 1735 when the Rev. John Clayton, who was a fervent Jacobite and curate of Sacred Trinity, taught the boys of St Cyprian's in a building adjoining his house in Gravel Lane Salford. In 1745 Charles Edward Stuart, the Young Pretender passed through Salford on his way south and as he passed by the Town Cross on Green Gate the Rev. Clayton fell to his knees to ask God's blessing on the prince. Two pupils, Charles Deacon and William Brettargh, followed Bonnie Prince Charlie to Derby. Unfortunately the two were taken prisoners and imprisoned in London. In June 1746 both were convicted of high treason and kept in Southwark Gaol until January 1749 when they were sentenced to transportation for life. Charles was sent to Jamaica, William was transported to Antigua. Sadly Dr Clayton died in 1773 and the School closed.

Leaf Square 1914 Building The exclusion of Nonconformists from English Universities gave rise to the development of many academies. For a short time an academy existed at Pendleton before it became the Lancashire Independent College. Salford Grammar School had a connection with the Pendleton academy and in 1810 opened a school in Leaf Square. It was a strange coincidence that almost a century later another Salford Grammar school was opened on the 16th July 1914 on the opposite side of Leaf Square by Sir William Mather. Unfortunately, six months later with the outbreak of the First World War, the school was converted and used as a Military Hospital. During this time the pupils and staff were accommodated in the Technical Institute, Peel Park, until hostilities ceased. Evacuation plans were somewhat different during the Second World War. For a short period from September 1939 - March 1940 the school was evacuated to Lancaster. On Saturday, September 2nd, 1939 the staff of the School and over two hundred boys travelled to Lancaster by special train from Ordsall Lane. On arrival at Lancaster the party were given a meal and emergency rations and then conducted to their temporary homes. A week later the school reopened with its headquarters at the Gregson Institute and with the kind permission of the Headmaster of the Lancaster Royal Grammar School the pupils were allowed to use the school laboratories, gymnasium and several classrooms. The land and property in Leaf Square had remained in the ownership of Mr J.G.Leaf, who resided in London. Once the pupils had taken up residence on the new Claremont site the whole of the Leaf Square site which backed onto Frederick Road was acquired by Salford Corporation for a new Technology College. Demolition of the old school building commenced in 1964 and the new Salford College of technology opened in 1965. From 1914 to 1956 the school roll grew from 225 to 625 pupils.

Claremont In 1937 Salford Education Committee acquired the house and grounds of Claremont which was formerly the private residence of Sir Percival Heywood. In March 1953 after many set-backs the construction of the new school on the Claremont site began and during 1955 "Claremont" the historic mansion was demolished. The pupils moved from the Leaf Square site into the new £250,000 building on Eccles Old Road on 12th January 1956 and the new school was officially opened by His Worship the Mayor of Salford on the 21st March 1956. Salford Grammar School continued until September 3rd 1973 when a system of Comprehensive education was adopted in Salford Schools.