History of our School

Due to the Factory Act of 1844 and to accommodate the greatly increased number of children now obliged to attend school for at least 3 hours a day, three National Schools (Church of England) were established: Our school at Christ Church in Todmorden (1845), one at Priestwell, Cross Stone (1847) and another at St. Peter's in Walsden (1848).

Our School is 1880

Todmorden National School, built on part of the church burial ground, had 153 scholars at the official opening ceremony. By 1851 this had increased to 294 although this figure included the Sunday school. There were 90 pupils in the day school. Joseph Gledhill was the master in charge.

National School 1905
This commemorative picture of the scholars in April 1905 was taken on the retirement of the headmaster, John Turner, who had been head for 38 years.

George Hesselgreaves (standing with his back to the wall) was duly promoted, and served as headmaster until he too retired, in 1932.

The photograph is an interesting illustration of the uniformity of schoolboys' clothing before the First World War.

A view of the main hall of the National School, 1905-10