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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: YvonneR on Wednesday 04 October 06 15:43 BST (UK)
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Hi
I wonder if anyone could help me find information regarding the Blue Coat School in Liverpool. Also would the records be available for someone who was at the school?
My brother in law has asked me if I would research his family history, his Grandfather Gordon Alty Watson was born in West Derby in 1913 and died in Birmingham in 1978, apparantly he doesn't know anything of this side of his family (maternal) as Gordon was in this Blue Coat School.
I have looked at the birth indexes and found an entry for Gordon A Watson in 1913 born in W. Derby (luckily it shows mother's maiden name as Alty, so we know where his middle name came from ;D) so obviously I will tell him that he needs to get this certificate asap and then hopefully we will know his parents names.
This will be my first time researching in Lancashire, so any information will be very welcome, especially about the Blue Coat School
Thanking you for reading this
Agnes
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The background work you can do before getting this birth certificate is
research for sibling births (going on the maiden name)
Look for Watson/Alty marrriages in the preceding years.
Blue Coat schools (in general) have a charitable element to them.
I don't know what records might be available from that time.
Pauline
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Hi
I remember doing some research on this but can't find the refs at the moment.
My Grandfather's cousin, a Rev Bruce Wilson, became Headmaster of the Blue Coat School (Christ Hospital) in Liverpool in 1920 which might cover your time period.
Gadget
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Hi Pauline
Thank you very much for your reply, it is appreciated very much.
I have done a search for Watson/Alty marriages and have found just one up to now in 1902, although I must admit that I have only searched the FreeBMD indexes, I will move to Ances* and go through the years preceeding 1913 and also for births from 1912.
Also, I have just started to look at the Blue Coat School, Liverpool website, so hopefully will find some avenues of research.
Very best wishes
agnes
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Wow Gadget
Thanks so much for that information 8) about your Grandfather's cousin.
Obviously I do not know the time scale but I would imagine that it would be around the early 1920's! All that my brother in law knows (or has been told!) is that his Grandfather was in this "orphanage" and therefore doesn't know if there were siblings or indeed if both parents died.
If you were able to come up with tose ref's it would be brilliant!
I feel right now that I am on a mission as Dean (my BIL) has also told me that his own father was in a "Christian Brothers" orphanage in Ireland.
I have known him for twenty years and he has never discussed these sad things in his family!
Once again Thank you so much
Agnes
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I hope you don't mind waiting until after the weekend, Agnes. I am away until then.
I even have a photo of said cousin which I'll put up for you.
His cousin, my Grandfather, was born in a workhouse. I believe that Bruce was the first one of the family to go to University - Bangor - Maths and then Religious orders.
I really must follow this line up as he did have a daughter.
Thank you for jogging my memory :)
Gadget
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Here's the photo to be going on with :)
I haven't repaired it yet so it has all the tears and wear of years:
Rev Bruce Wilson
My first cousin, twice removed :D
Gadget
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Absolutely not, Gadget ;D I am really thrilled that you have shown interest 8) and thank you indeed for this information. I look forward to seeing the photo!
Hope you have a good time away ;) and glad to assist in the memory jogging ;D
Very best wishes
Agnes
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Wow, I am thrilled and I know that Dean will be also
Your kindness is so appreciated
Thank you again
Agnes
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Hiya
When I was at school in Liverpool in the 1950s the Blue Coat comprised a grammar school, and a boarding school. As I remember it the boarding school took the children of servicemen, but there was also a lot of competition from local boys to get a place as it had a good academic reputation. Eventually the boarding school was closed - but the 'grammar school' (I'm not sure that's what they call it now) is still open. The school might well have records of past pupils - from what I remember they had loads of old photographs of past students lining the corridors when you first went in. Their address is Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 (sorry, don't know the rest of the postcode, but that would find it).
Good luck.
Lesley
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Hello Agnes,
We were doing some research for a pupil at Liverpool's Bluecoat School recently at about the same time period as your grandfather. At Liverpool Record Office they have the school's Admission & Dismissal Register available to view. You would need the 1891 - 1962 Register with ref: no: 377BLU. This would give you name, date of birth, admission date, parents, entry of marriage of parents, date of baptism, circumstances, by whom kept, residence, to whom apprenticed, when apprenticed & where.
Good hunting,
Graham
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Graham
I am so grateful for this information. I have been touched by the response to my message and now to have this is behond my wildest dreams.
A trip to Liverpool will most definitely be arranged asap and it looks as though many of my brother in law's questions could well be answered.
Thank you so very much
Most sincerely
Agnes
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Lesley
Thank you very much for the background descripion of the school as well as the address. Your input is appreciated very much indeed.
Very best wishes
Agnes
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hi agnes...i am a joiner and in liverpool...in 1972 i built an extension to the stage in the main assembly hall in bluecoat school and they were still a part boarding school then..admittedly the boarders all seem to be from very rich parents,but i was amazed that the boys were always wanting to chat after school hours...presumably stuck in the school 24hrs a day they were just glad to talk to someone from outside the school...regards...allan
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Dear Agnes,
My ancestor, John Henry Smith was at Blue Coat School, Liverpool. I have established from BCS records his date of birth, when he was admitted, where & when baptised, his home address, why he was admitted and to whom and when he was apprenticed. Unfortunately I cannot lay hands on the correspondence but will continue to search and if I find anything I will let you know. John Henry was admitted in 1904 so good records existed for the pre WW1 period. I had not done much Family History research when I got this info so I probably just wrote to the school. If it is still in existence perhaps you could try a letter to them.
Peter
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Hi Peter
Thank you so much for your reply to my query. Your research proves that indeed this info can be obtained.
I have passed on all the relevant info
Thanks again very much for your interest
Best wishes
Agnes
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If you go to the Record Office, as suggested by penmoris above, you will have the treat of searching through the original books in the Archive Room. These huge old bound books give you all the information which has been detailed by others on this thread and I hope you find the information as enlightening as I did when searching for my own grandfather's entry.
Although many pupils may have been well off there were many who were orphaned or maybe only having a mother to support them and in grandad's case he appears to have been sponsored by the lady of the house where his mother was working to support him after her husband had died.
Most of these children were also found apprenticeships and where and the date is also something that you can find in there. There are both Application and Admissions Registers and if you have enough time there are also some Minute Books but I think these have more to do with the running of the school than the actual pupils themselves.
Good luck
Mary
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Hi Mary
I really appreciate this information and I will pass it on to my brother in law.
It would appear that his Grt Grandfather died in 1916 and as Gordon's parents were elderly when he was born there is the strong possibility that his mother wasn't able to support him.
My sincere thanks for your input.
Best wishes
Agnes