Stockport Rd, Denton
On the afternoon of the 13 Oct 1853, Jacob Fletcher Fletcher and his daughter, Charlotte Anne, were at the site of the proposed St Lawrence's Infant and Junior Schools on Stockport Rd, in the
presence of distinguished company and a large crowd. Here, Charlotte Anne, then aged 7 years, laid the foundation stone for the new schools, her father having given the land upon which they were to be built.
The Bishop of Oxford, Dr Samuel Wilberforce FRS D Div, son of the late William Wilberforce MP, made a short speech and then he led the people in prayer.
The Rt Hon William Ewart Gladstone MP FRS FSS, Chancellor of the Exchequer, then stepped onto the foundation stone and made a speech.
Three cheers followed this for Queen Victoria, Mr Gladstone and the Bishop of Oxford after which the gathering dispersed. The new schools replaced an earlier school, built in 1769, that adjoined St Lawrence's Church.
The architect for the new schools was Thomas Bird of Manchester who also superintended their building. They were stone-built in Tudor Revival Style and adjoining them a residence for teachers was provided. The schools could accommodate about 300 pupils and each school was provided with a playground. The cost of building was estimated to be around £1,600 to £1,700. Jacob Fletcher Fletcher, proprietor of nearby Denton Colliery, made a large donation towards the cost and the Revd William Parr Greswell also made a contribution.
Following the demolition of these schools in 1979, the Denton St Lawrence Retirement and Sheltered Accommodation was built on the site.