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Wigan Album

Castle Hill CoE School

18 Comments

Castle Hill CoE School.
Castle Hill CoE School.
Photo: Dennis Miller
Views: 6,199
Item #: 11243
The caption says it all...

Comment by: henry7 on 20th July 2009 at 22:14

This brings back many memories of my schooldays, some very good, some very bad.

Comment by: Dr Keith Tattum on 22nd July 2009 at 09:34

I was brought up on Hope Street opposite this school, and attended here from 1957. I am told the schoool has been demolished following a fire. My childhood would have been considerably better if the fire had occured in 1956!
From my perspective it was a school with no leadership, no aspirations and an approach to the children which had little to do with education and more to do with crowd control. In the main the teachers were disinterested, unprofessional and callous. At best they were, as they frequently were, absent. I moved to Argyle Street Primary when I was eight years old and could not believe the difference.
People on this site often talk of the good old days. I can assure you, from my perspective at least, there was nothing good about this school and it should be confined to the annals of dark history were it deservedly belongs.

Comment by: Dennis Miller on 25th July 2009 at 08:01

Keith...

It was never my intention to revive unhappy memories... I am sorry.

But I disagree schools such as this should be forgotten, they should actually be remembered to ensure they never happen again. I was lucky... and perhaps take it for granted that my school days were a happy time for me.

Yes, take of the rosy coloured spectacles that is memory... and tell it like it was.

Comment by: Elaine Leyland on 16th March 2010 at 19:46

I attended this school from 1955 until I left to attend secondary school - Hindley & Abram Grammar.I have very happy memories of attending Castle Hill School as do various other memories of my family.The staff were hard working ,caring and provided an excellent education.I have always been grateful that I attended such a good school Thankyou to Dennis Miller for sharing this photograph with us.

Comment by: Andrew shawforth on 30th July 2010 at 08:10

I cant argue with the D.r,i went in very late 60s and ended up at argyle st school also. different times,same methods,I could not read or write till i got to argyle st school.

Comment by: kathryn roberts nee young on 13th October 2010 at 19:54

i went to this school from 1970 to 1977 wen i left to go park high formaly hags i found it a good school and the teachers where fine i have some good memories all my family also went to this schoolh

Comment by: Henry7 on 2nd November 2010 at 14:23

I attended Castle Hill in the 1950's and dreaded every day. Most of the teachers were cruel and definitely should not have been in the teaching profession. The year I attended not one person passed the 11 plus exam which is an indication of just how bad it was.

Comment by: ray McLaren on 7th March 2011 at 06:59

My mam went to Castle hill 1932, Lily Banks, quite a few of the Banks, I also went to "Sunday school" there in the 50s
I was also in the Walk day; used to assemble on the square opposite' before proceeding down Castle hill rd.

Comment by: David on 4th June 2011 at 02:07

I attended that school from about 1955 - 58, I can remember a young lad in my class (of about 6 year olds) getting his face slapped several times for the heinous crime of opening his eyes during prayers. In later years, I remember Mrs. McCormack, who was a lady of stout proportion, she often had red face when she was angry, and angry, she often was if you got something wrong. It wasn't beyond her capability to get hold of a lad, bend him over a desk, hit the back of his head and his back. This woman would've be thrown in jail these days.

It was supposedly, a church school, C of E., but I can't re-call any vicar or priest coming to the place.

Can't say I remember much more about the place now, maybe the location of the place, next door to the cemetery, had a depressing influence on folks. Although I didn't realise at the time, leaving that school was probably best thing I did.

Comment by: Philip Evans on 29th March 2013 at 11:23

I went there in 1939 as a five year old when the war started.My father was the keeper of Borsdane Wood My brother who was two years older also went. I remember one teacher when I was in the next to the top class who would get two twelve inch rulers and hit you on the back of the hand if she said you had mis-behaved. Can't remember her name. Frank Moorcroft lived at the cemetery as his father lived in the house at the entrance.

Comment by: Ena Lea on 15th November 2013 at 20:15

I went to Castle Hill school in 1962, the happiest days of my life, wish i was back there. Mr Banks was the head, and would raise his hat to the ladies. Aged 7 i started in Mrs Holts class, she had a freeze of the alphabet around the room.Each letter was coloured in wavy lines of different colours and hung near the ceiling. Mrs Gill was reception and their was Mr. Dekin, later came Mr. Kelly. My brother Stuart Pemberton was in the class after reception, i can't remember the teachers name. The lamps on mill Lane were Gaslights we would see the man come and put out the flame, before we went into school at 9o'clock. I remember the day the factory on Castle Hill Road, behind Cowburn Street, had its chimney demolished. We where baned from going to watch by Mr. Banks, still some of us slipped out at lunch time and went to see what was going on. We heared the chimney come down later that afternoon. The factory on Castle Hill was demolished and Bungalows where built on the land.

Comment by: Ena Lea on 13th November 2016 at 00:21

Phill, I knew a Mr, and Mrs Evens he had been the woodlands keeper, if its the same people thy moved to Holins Road Hindley, they became naighbours to my Mum. Mrs Evens kitted a few jumpers for me. Is this your relations.

Comment by: Ena Lea (nee Pemberton) on 1st July 2018 at 22:59

I was in Mr Banks class 1966-67, the leavers class,My name then was Ena Pemberton I remember Keith Hartley, John Roberts, Stephen Roberts, William Livesley, Cathy Brooks, Denis Dwyer, Julie Rowden Michael Shaw, Rose Evans, Angela Lewis, Brenda Crook, Robert Muirhead, Ian Culshaw, Julie Dainty, Rodger ?, Now my memory lets me down for give me if I missed you off, please add your name and any memories from those days

Comment by: Ena Lea on 1st July 2018 at 23:24

what happened to Marie Holland, Ann Oliver, Anne Williams , John Butler, Catherine Walls, Roy ?,( lived next door to Susan Fox ) Susan Fox, Susan Pemberton, Christine Brown, Else ?, Susan Winnerd, Winifred Crompton More children who were in my class 1967-68 at castle Hill School or lived near me.

Comment by: Keith Hartley on 11th November 2018 at 13:52

I remember Castle Hill, I moved from Liverpool to here for one year, and to start with I couldn't catch the accent but Mr Banks was very good to me, he tried to get me into Bolton School but I didn't pass the entrance exam so I went to Hindley & Abram for a year then my family moved to Yorkshire. My sister Susan is two years younger and my brother Alan 4 years younger so we all went to Castle Hill.
I remember Ena, and wasn't there a lad who could wiggle his ears - very impressive.

Comment by: Ron Howarth on 8th March 2019 at 14:31

I attended this school as did my sister Brenda Howarth and then onto Argyle Street in 1954/5. My Great grandfather was Joseph Howarth who was a Lay preacher at All Saints and President of Wigan Athletic in 1935 he also had strong connection with Castle Hill CofE School as well. Some of the names I recall at Castle Hill are, Granville Martlew (still in contact with him) he lived in Smithwood Avenue. Alan Sumner, Derek Grime, Harry & Derek Carey, Derek Higham, Edna Green, Alan Jones, Fred Parr, David Cowburn. I was a member of All Saints Choir and boy soloist at the church for several years. The Organist at the time was Walter Beasly., also a member of the 1st Hindley Scouts, George Pattereson and Jack Paul were around at that time. I resided with parents off LongLane Hindley although my grandparents resided at 176, Castle Hill Rd. My grandfather Herbert (Bert) had a Coal business that he ran from that address. Others may remember Sarah Howarth at 117, Castle Hill Rd., she was the Mayer of Hindley on a couple of occasions.
Only just found this site so looking forward to sharing some memories from the old days. I'm now 75 hears old, so are any of my old friends still around?

Comment by: Carl Stockton on 11th June 2019 at 12:34

I went to castle hill school in the 1973, i remember a first girlfriend her name was Jane Porter 😊 I think she lived in the vicars house next to the school has her dad most of been a vicar. Just wondering if anybody knows where she lives now, be great to catch up after 45 years 🤗

Comment by: Dianne on 8th August 2020 at 18:28

hi if anyone has any photographs of this school please would you share them with me. I live on this site now and we are digging the garden up and have found underground walls, possibly a coal bunker full of coal, and a solid concrete slab flooring. We would love to know the layout of how the school was.
Thanks x

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