Widnes School Records

[Manila Jack]

Would any of the wise ones out there know where school records for early 20th Century Widnes may be kept? I'm presuming pupils' records are kept in an archive somewhere.

[MaryA]

Not necessarily, not all schools consider their old registers etc. are valuable to us researchers and they could have simply been filed away somewhere or even lost.

The best place to approach would be the library, which does hold some archives, give them a ring 0303 333 4300 or details of places and openings http://www3.halton.gov.uk/educationandl ... libraries/ or alternatively if the school still exists, perhaps the school secretary might know something.

[Hilary]

The only school records that may still would be the Admissions register and the school log book.

The admissions register records the date of birth, addrees, sometimes name of parent or guardian, date admitted to the school and date of leaving the school and reason for leaving.

The log book records the life of the school. It rarely records pupil's names unless they have done something memorable.

Sometimes these records have been lodged at locla archives or libraries, sometimes they are still with the school and sometimes they have totally disappeared on closure of a school.

As MaryA says your best bet would be to start with the local library but also try Cheshire Archives as that would be the local Archive.

If you know the name of the school and it still exists they may help you but replying to Family history queries may not come top of their list of priorities! There may be a book/pamphlet written about the school so it's worth googling the school.

What sort of information were you hoping to get from any records?

I should have said there is no legal requirement for these records to be kept. Some local authorities over the years have requested the log books and admissions registers be lodged appropriately.

[Tex T]

Some admission registers for St Bede's RC infants were available to view last year when the school had an open day, so presumably those are still kept at that school. The records cover a long time period, the earliest one I made a note of was from 1874 and the oldest was 1919, but the range could be wider than this, these just covered the time period I was interested in. (They did not get to the 1950's though, the time when I started school there!)

The transcripts of some admission and withdrawal registers for Simms Cross CofE junior and senior boys are available in Widnes Library. There are several volumes which have appeared one by one over the last year or so, I have no idea who is producing them or where the original registers are. The records range from 1877 to 1930, but I do not know if they are the complete records for this range of years.

[Manila Jack]

Thanks to everyone who gave me tips on these. You've given me enough to go on to keep me occupied.

Thanks again.

Jack

[Tina]

Good to see you posting Manila Jack!

Tina

[Manila Jack]

Thanks Tina. I'll try to do more in the future.