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Renfrew Schools and Pupils
| The Charter of King Robert III, of 1397,
creating Renfrew a Royal Burgh states that provision be made
for the founding of a school in the burgh to be known as the
'Grammar School of Renfrew in all time coming'. Before this
time the children of the wealthy were educated by Paisley
Priory. The ordinary people were illiterate. The actual
history of the school is vague but it is mentioned in
documents of 1593 and again in 1698 when a theology student
was appointed as Master. By 1792 education had been extended
to poor families in a school held in the Kirk Session
House. Reading, writing and arithmetic with some Church
music was taught and evening classes were held, these latter
paid for by the pupils. Many children worked in weaving
sheds so their education was very limited. By 1836 there
were six schools, with some evening classes still being
held.
In 1820 the Kirk Session House School had to be closed
for repairs due to serious vandalism and the two
Parliamentary candidates bore the cost. The Kirk granted
permission for a new school to be built outside the
churchyard wall. Known first as the Grammar School, its name
later changed to the Burgh School. Pupils were charged for
their education at the following rates:
English - Reading - Spelling - Needlework and Knitting
2/6d quarter
As above with Grammar - History - Geography
4/0d quarter
As above with Writing - Arithmetic - Colour Work and
Knitting
5/0d quarter
As above with French and Drawing
7/6d quarter
As above with Music
10/0d quarter
Blythswood Testimonial School opened in 1843, a
gift to the town, built as a memorial to Archibald Campbell
of Blythswood. The senior pupils and staff of the Burgh
School moved there, leaving only the primary and female
scholars at the Burgh School while the Kirk Session
House catered for the poor. Some Sunday collections
from the Kirk were used to provide clothing and education
for the poorest. In 1856 a second 'female school' was opened
in Fulbar Lane.
The Education Act of 1872 required that all children aged
between 5 and 13 attend school and financial provision was
made accordingly. School meals and clothing were provided
for the very poorest children after 1908.
The High School [ The Glebe School] opened in 1908
with all the pupils of the Blythswood School being moved
there. The gymnasium was added in 1931 and in 1947 the
leaving age was raised to 15. Children from Inchinnan and
Bishopton received their secondary education here but by
1960, with the problem of overcrowding and the raising
again of the school leaving age, it was decided to build
another High School to cope with the extra pupils.
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The Glebe School [Renfrew High School]
The High School is now in Haining Road and the
Trinity School occupies the site in Glebe Street.
Blythswood Testimonial School
[My thanks to Billy Russell for this picture]
There was, and is, Moorpark Public School and
a Roman Catholic Junior School - Saint James
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Saint James' School opened in
Fulbar Lane in 1877, being a school on weekdays and a
Church on Sundays. The school moved to Inchinnan Road in
1903 then to Murray Street in 1936.
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No pictures are available of Saint James' School at
the present time. If anyone has one please contact me.
[William Russell in front of the
Moorpark School]
Are you here?
Moorpark School c. 1949
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Back Row:
Peter Cowser, John Higgins, Stuart
Gibson, Roy Mitchell, Roy Greenlees, John Watson, Nat
Scobie
Second Row:
Teacher Miss Sinclair, Billy McCallum,
John Barclay, Jim Harvey, Daniel McPherson, Brian Hayes,
Bobby Robertson, Ronnie Mullen, Matt Ross
Next Row:
Jimmy Graham, Peter Johnston,
AgnesNicholson, Annette Smart, Nancy Rodgers, Margaret
Sidey, Margaret Bentley, Elizabeth Blanchflower, Catriona
Kennedy
Second Front Row:
Sheila Rodrickson, May Blackburn, Sheila
Taylor, Jean Gray, Jaqueline Pedder, Isabel Allan, Jessie
Gemmel, Margaret Young, Margaret McPherson
Front Row:
David Russell, Kenny Steel, George
Leitch, John Pointer
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Blythswood School c. 1946?
Miss Hilton [headmistress] with pupils at the
Blythswood School c.1947
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