Royal School for the Blind, Liverpool
The Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool, England, is the oldest specialist school of its kind in the UK, having been founded in 1791.[1] Only the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris is older, but the Royal School for the Blind is the oldest school in the world in continuous operation, and the first in the world founded by a blind person, Edward Rushton, who was also an anti-slavery campaigner.[2][3] It was also the first school in the world to offer education and training to blind adults as well as children.[4][page needed]
Early history
Established as The Liverpool School for the Indigent Blind in 1791, the foundation of what is now the Royal School for the Blind, in Liverpool, England, is commonly attributed to Edward Rushton. However, some sources refer to a further seven co-founders, including the blind musician John Christie and William Roscoe.[5]
The first building to be used by the school was quite unsuitable. Situated at 6 Commutation Row, Liverpool, opposite the potteries of Shaw's Brow (now
In 1806 during a royal visit to Liverpool by the Prince of Wales (later
The gift was a great boost to the institution because it was raising funds to extend the site. Foster was again engaged as architect and land to the rear of the building was secured; building began on new facilities in 1807. Completed in 1812, 53 males and 18 females moved into the buildings, which were now fully residential, with work rooms, technical facilities and music rooms. The mission of the school guardians was that the institution would be "less of an asylum, where the ease a comfort of the blind were principally considered, and more approaching a school, where pupils could be instructed in some useful art or trade, by which they might be enabled to procure for themselves a comfortable livelihood."[citation needed]
In 1819, a chapel was opened by the school on adjoining land, with a connecting tunnel for the pupils to avoid the road and traffic above. Foster was asked to draw up plans and, being fresh from a tour of Greece, the classical influence was captured in the Doric frontage to the building. This influence would be carried over into other local buildings during his career as the city architect.[citation needed]
As
With the passing of the Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act 1893, the Hardman Street school could not provide the required facilities laid down by the new legislation. Thanks to Mary Louisa Hornby, who was a major benefactor, Wavertree Hall was purchased in Church Road, Wavertree, the original hall was demolished and the new school buildings opened in November 1898. Taking in children from the age of 5 to 16, they would then be transferred to the Hardman Street site for technical training.[6]
Early 20th century
Due to dwindling attendances and the chapel having no parish of its own, it was decided to close the building in 1930; it was demolished later that year. There was great debate over the fate of the Doric front but nothing came of the numerous suggestions. A new extension was opened in 1932 on the same site, designed by the architects Anthony Minoprio and Hugh Spencely,[7] which provided additional work space, recreation rooms, offices and a sales shop for the goods manufactured by the students.[citation needed]
During the Second World War, both the Wavertree and Hardman Street sites were evacuated with staff to Rhyl in North Wales, moving together on 1–2 September 1939. Four buildings were taken over: the former North Wales School for Blind Children in Russell Road; Clwyd Lodge next door; Northgate House and Penrhyn Lodge. The school returned to Liverpool in 1946. Part of the Hardman Street school was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force in the intervening period.[citation needed]
Post-war and the Education Act 1944
Following the changes introduced by the Education Act 1944, Wavertree became a school for mixed pupils aged 7–11, with Henshaw's School for the Blind in Manchester taking senior children. Those with academic promise were sent to Worcester College for Boys, Chorleywood College for Girls or the Royal Normal School, where pupils would generally stay until they were 18. The Hardman Street site became a technical college for the North West region for those aged 16 to 21. General academic education would continue, plus the provision of vocational training in basket-making, shoe repairing, brush-making, and hand-, flat- and round-machine knitting – all wholly inadequate in a modernising post war industrialised world where many blind people were now being employed under the terms of the Disabled Persons Employment Act 1944. The technical college failed to move with the times, which in turn led to a dwindling of its students and eventually to closure in 1957. The building was sold to Liverpool Corporation in 1959, who leased it to the city's police force for use as their headquarters until they moved to Canning Place in 1982. It has since served several purposes.[8]
The Wavertree site continued under the headship of Derek Marks from 1960, who, keen for the school to modernise, quickly introduced the Perkins Brailler. With only two machines in the country, both owned by the Royal National Institute of Blind People, he placed an order for 60 with the bemused American manufacturers. Children were allowed to take them with them when they moved on to senior school. Additional buildings were added on site, together with a swimming pool in 1964 and the landscaping of the grounds, with its additional recreation areas. There was further expansion in 1966, when the Abbeyholme estate alongside the school was acquired, then in 1972 when Clifton House to the rear of the school facing Prince Alfred Road was purchased.[citation needed]
The school was moving into a successful phase under Marks and his staff, who were keen to introduce new ideas and revolutionary techniques where possible. However, more change was on the way, and as the effects of the
education of physically handicapped children with severe learning difficulties, and other handicaps, between the ages of three and eighteen, who would not be catered for in their local schools.
The transition took time and was finally reached by August 1989.[citation needed]
In 1990, in tribute to over 40 years of commitment and dedication in the caring and education of children with special needs, Marks was awarded an OBE. The award was announced as he was celebrating thirty years as headmaster of the school.[citation needed]
Bicentenary and royal visit
In 1989, historian Mike Royden was asked by the school to look at the school archive with a view to producing a history of the school in time for its bicentenary. The archive is extensive with volumes dating back to 1773, containing, for example, complete sets of Management Committee minute books and Annual Reports from 1793, Admissions Registers, medical reports, Visitors Reports, and Treasurers Reports. All were researched and indexed at this time. The subsequent history by Royden, Pioneers and Perseverance - A History of the Royal School for the Blind 1791-1991 - was published in 1991. A diary kept by the pupils during their evacuation to Rhyl was also discovered and included in the appendix.[citation needed]
The Bicentennial appeal fund was launched on 13 November 1990 with a target of £2.5 million to provide new facilities, including new classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool and residential facilities for parents.[citation needed]
During the research for the school's history, Royden discovered the fate of the Doric front of the chapel demolished in 1930. Six columns in triple sections, their
21st century
In 2011, the school was cited as one of the reasons (along with local blind charity Bradbury Fields) for UK supermarket Sainsbury's choice to use a store in nearby Woolton for its trial of Braille signage.[9]
The Redwall series of books was first written for pupils at the school[10] when its author Brian Jacques worked there as a delivery driver.[11] From 2016, the History of Place project carried out archival research at the school,[12] uncovering and making public documents including diaries of some of those who attended the school,[13] as well as revealing aspects of its architectural heritage.[14] The Museum of Liverpool held an exhibition featuring the history of the school in 2018.[15]
Today, the Royal School for the Blind provides places for up to 66 pupils ranging in age from 2–19 years and beyond. All students have a visual impairment and multiple disabilities, including difficulties ranging from moderate to profound. The children are taught in small groups with a high staff ratio. All pupils have access to the (Early Years Foundation Stage) National Curriculum and a discrete 16-19 curriculum with an increased emphasis upon independent skills and vocational skills.
Historical abuse allegations
In January 2017, allegations against a deceased former headmistress, Margaret McLenan, of historical physical and mental abuse were reported. She was in post in the 1950s. Susan George, president of the school when the allegations were made, said she was saddened by them.[16]
References
- ^ Royden, Mike. "Edward Rushton - life and times of an 18th Century Radical and the foundation of the Blind School in Liverpool". Mike Royden's Local History Pages.
- ^ Royden Mike, Edward Rushton, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2001)
- ^ "Unsung: life story of Edward Rushton". History of Place.
- ^ Phillips, Gordon (2004). The Blind in British Society: Charity, State and Community c1780-1930. Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
- ^ "When Was the First School for Blind Pupils Established in Britain?". Historic England. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0907768393.
- ^ "The Blind School Extension". Friends of Liverpool Monuments. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ Lottie, Gibbons (18 April 2018). "First look inside The Florist at the former Old Blind School". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Sainsburys in Woolton is first in UK to have braille signage for blind customers". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ "Redwall author Brian Jacques dies aged 71". BBC News. 7 February 2011.
- ^ "About". Redwall.org.
- ^ Liverpool School for the Indigent Blind Timeline http://historyof.place/location/liverpool-school-for-the-indigent-blind/
- ^ Our evacuation diary http://historyof.place/our-evacuation-diary-1939/
- ^ History of place - maps and the Liverpool school for the indigent blind http://historyof.place/historic-images-of-the-school-for-the-blind/
- ^ Museum of Liverpool exhibition about the School for the Blind. http://historyof.place/events/exhibition-at-the-museum-of-liverpool/
- ^ West, Kate (9 January 2017). "Liverpool Royal School for the Blind headmistress 'abused children'". BBC News. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
Further reading
- Hunter, Bill, Forgotten Hero: The Life and Times of Edward Rushton (2002)
- Thomas, Mary G., Edward Rushton – N.I.B. Biographies No.1 (1949)
- Shepherd, W. (Memoir of Edward Rushton: Poems and other writings - with a sketch of a life of the Author (1824)