The land and building in Lowther Street were given during the 19thC by Lady Maud Lowther, second wife of Thomas Legh of Lyme Hall, who lived at one time at Shrigley Hall. It was given in Trust such that its purpose was for the education of local children. The Deed stated that if it should ever cease to be used for educational purposes ownership should default to the Crown Estate, and this is what happened in the late 1990s.
The extension on the west end (two below) is not shown in the architect’s original drawing (right) and appears to have been added later though we know it has been there a long time.
History
  |
An attempt was made in 2007 by Bollington Initiative Trust In 2011 the Crown Estate sold the site and the buyer obtained planning permission to restore the building and divide it into four domestic units, and to build two additional cottages in the playground to the left of the existing building. The area of land now occupied by Lowther Street, including the houses of Sowcar Way, and Turner Rise, and the hill above them with the TV/telephone transmitter on it, were named in the 19thC as Shude Hill, all then owned by Lady Lowther. |
(BIT) to acquire the building from the Crown Estate. Unfortunately this was frustrated by the 2008 economic downturn and the attempt was abandoned.
  |
The front perimeter wall has particularly unusually shaped and rather beautiful coping stones, a curve up the face which is reflected in the shape of, and within, the gate. The gate post tops are also particularly attractive. The building has now been re-developed into four domestic units. A further pair of cottages have been built in the playground. The cottages have been very well built to precisely emulate the adjacent terrace – most who do not know this think they are part of the original terrace of cottages. |
Listed structures
See Listed Buildings page for the full list and notes regarding Listed, Article 4, and SPD properties.
The links on the structures are to the Historic England web site. Any links to local history pages are to this web site.
|
(SPD) Lowther Street School; Mid 19th century Gothic style school house. Restored and converted into four apartments early 21stC. |