Last Update: 26th October 2007
200 Signatures and counting...
The Agony of Cotton College
As a former pupil , I visited the site of my old school , Cotton College , near Oakamoor in October 2006. I personally found the whole experience very depressing. Why has the place been allowed to go to wrack and ruin? St. Wilfrid's is more than just bricks and mortar , but even as a building in its own right , it is surely worthy of consideration and protection. This is one of the major cultural and historic Roman Catholic centres of the 19th and 20th Centuries. In this place , the anthem of Roman Catholic England was composed by Father Faber ( Faith of Our Fathers). St. Charles Houban was Parish Priest for a time , the body of Blessed Dominic Barberi lay at Wilf's for 6 months prior to his burial in St. Helens , and numerous Priests , Bishops and even an Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Birmingham walked its cloisters. Cotton College was a community and as such is also a cemetery , with a number of 'Profs' choosing to be buried within the grounds. It also hosts a War Memorial dedicated to Old Cottonians killed in both World Wars. To see the place behind wire , crumbling , forsaken , left to rot was hard to swallow.
I call upon the Planners of the Local Authority , the Staffordshire Moorlands District Councillors and Parish Councillors , the Archdiocese , the people of the village and the owners of the site to use their powers to return the College to a semblance of dignity. I heard that there were plans to develop but these plans have been rejected. The current situation is a disgrace.
I urge Old Cottonians everywhere join me in demanding that Cotton College is returned to a semblance of decency for people to visit in dignity. I have started a 'Save Cotton College' campaign which I hope readers will support by writing to the Local Authority demanding action and also by signing the Save Cotton Petition.
P.Glynn October 2006
Also
Write to the Local Authority at:
Head of Planning
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Moorlands House, Stockwell Street
Leek
Staffordshire
ST13 6HQ
Tel. +44 (0)1538 483483
Write to the Archdiocese at:
The Archdiocese of Birmingham
8 Shadwell Street,
Birmingham
B4 6EY
My contact email is:
!!SAVE COTTON COLLEGE!!
What I think should happen:
1. If there is no imminent signs that the site is becoming half decent , continues look like a building site and is an eyesore to visitors , then the Local Authority should compulsary purchase.
2. They should clear the site of Thoss's and the absolute rubble of Top - Lower Bounds. Knock down the Faber Wing. The Local Authority should then sell off the buildings to whoever will use them immediately, & not to people who would just sit on them.
3. As for the security of the place - they should build or use some of the building as a Police Station. Other uses of the building could be as Council Offices. Of course, it is possible to use the buildings as homes or offices or businesses or whatever. It will have a positive effect on the community and the village.
4. The Archdiocese still retains a moral duty to the grounds as it is a Catholic Cemetery. The Valley Cemetery needs maintaining and the graves of former Headmasters by St. Wilf's also need maintenance. The Pugin built Chapel also is of concern , being so close to such decay.
5. As long as people are happy to do nothing , the whole place just lies there festering. Allowing the situation to continue should not be an option. I foresee the situation continuing which is very frustrating.
There are a number of opinions that have been expressed to me over the past weeks. Not everyone actually supports what I am trying to achieve - which is to embarrass everyone with a vested interest into action. Some former Old Boys have told me ' Let it rot.' Others say I am naiive to bother sticking my head in an on going war that no one will ever win. Some say I am quite right to highlight the situation. Others say they just don't care either way. ALL opinions are useful , whether you want the whole place returned to fields or get as many of the buildings restored as is possible.
How the Developer , District Council , Local Community act or feel is purely their responsibility , not mine. They have shown over the past two decades that they cannot work together to the benefit of all concerned. For my own part , I simply want something done to get rid of the disgrace that the site has become. It is now upon them to 'sort it out.' However , I am prepared to work with them to bring this matter to a close. If I can help , contact me.
LATEST NEWS!!! - 26th October 2007 - The Owners (Cotton Developments) and the District Coouncil are back on speaking terms and hopefully plans will be put forward to sort out the site. This is hot off the press so no details as yet. Maybe prayer DID work!
Update from 17th June: 181 people have now signed the petition. Early Feb. I received a phone call from Cllr. Hilary Corby , Member for Churnet Ward , which covers Cotton , in response to an email I had sent to her regarding the Save Cotton College Campaign. It was a very pleasant conversation and Cllr. Corby has told me she would be happy to meet up with me if I am in the area. I went back down to the Moorlands during late February and it was my pleasure to meet her & discuss the petition and some of the comments with her.
The Save Cotton College Newsletter has been sent out to interested parties via email & also by snail mail. Receipients include Secretary to the Archbishop , Fr. Martin Pratt , The Head of Planning of SMDC , and the local MP . Response = nil.
A 'Save Cotton College Steering Group' is now up and running. If you would like to input ideas on how to proceed or to comment on what action is being taken , please contact me at my email address.
Any responses to our campaign have been mixed. Cotton Developments responded with a statement & followed it up with a letter to the press. The Cotton College Action Group wrote to me setting out their aims and also wrote to the Press. These can all be seen in full detail under RESPONSES
In the June 2007 issue of Catholic Today ( this is the organ of the Archdiocese of Birmingham) there is a full page article on Cotton's Saint , Charles Houban , who was Canonised last week by the Pope. In fact , Cotton is all over the paper. As a result of reading this , I posted the following onto the College Web Board in the hope of an emailing campaign.
It's time to move on with the quest to save our former school from neglect and decay.
In the June 2007 edition of 'Catholic Today' (serving the Archdiocese of Birmingham) on page 5 there is an article "A Saint From Cotton. Can it be?"
It is a full page story on St. Charles Houban who was canonised by the Pope last week.
Great artcle , great mention of Cotton. In fact , other Old Cottonians appear throughout the paper , Bishops , Canons etc.
As they are so fond of things 'Cottonian' , I ask that as many of us as possible email ' Catholic Today' with something along these lines.
To: catholictoday@alivepublishing.co.uk
"Following your excellent article on St. Charles Houban of Mount Argus , 'the Cotton Saint' , in 'Catholic Today' , I wish to tell you that I am appalled at the current state of Cotton College.
I urge everyone who has any respect for Cotton College and its traditions to demand that the site be tidied up immediately and put to good use for the sake of the local residents.
Cotton deserves it & the Archdiocese should insist upon it.
Yours sincerely"
Catholic Today printed three letters - from Pat Guiry , Eryl Williams and myself. Thanks , Pat & Eryl. Thanks also the Catholic Today for printing them.
Thanks to all who signed the petition so far : 200 - the latest sig is Old Cottonian Craig Pellatt Thanks , Craig ,
Old Boys & Old Girls from every era. Visitors. Local folk. Thanks to all who have signed.
Peter Glynn
PS. I might pray to St Charles (pictured below) for a minor miracle?
Cotton's Saint
Janine Machin's Breakfast show on Radio Stoke were in contact and they ran a feature on 25th October 2006 ( 7-00am - 8-30 am.) They sent a reporter to the Coll and also interviewed Mr.David Cliffe of Cotton Developments at the site itself. Because of short notice I was unable to be present but the radio station interviewed me over the telephone.
What do you think? All your thoughts are valued , so please add any & all to the Guestbook (link left).
Do YOU agree with what I think should happen? If you do , please sign the Petition ( link left)
