Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Anyone heard of this? it appears on the OS map for 1845, on the site of what is now Wm. Blythe's.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Haha! Puzzle solved!
It was founded in 1843-4 by Dr. Jonathan Bayley, the incumbant minister at the Swedenborgian New Church on Abbey Street, as a school for the technical education of working men. A forerunner of the Mechanics Institute!

I am obliged to Bob Dobson (formerly of Accrington Grammar School) for the information.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

I'm not really sure what this forum is all about, I haven't really gotten around to looking into it quite yet. However, I ran across it in a search for 'Holland Bank Grove'.

I have found a letter from a John B. Pixton, written at Holland Bank Grove and postmarked 1840.

You say "It was founded in 1843-4 by Dr. Jonathan Bayley". I find this interesting as the postmark on this letter is prior to your date of 1843-4, although Mr. Bayley is mentioned in this letter.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Could it perhaps have been a large house occupied by Mr Pixton, which was subsequently used as the premises for the school?

BTW, welcome to AccyWeb Kezzra. If you are interested in the area you'll find all sorts of useful and useless information here as well as a bunch of people enjoying themselves just chatting, having heated debates and posing puzzling questions. You are very welcome to join in.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

It is possible, yes. The letter does say Holland Bank Grove on it and he does speak of his books, which ones he needs new ones of, which ones he doesn't need anymore. John Pixton was attending school at the time of the letter wether or not it was the actual academy mentioned here.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Sorry. Don't have a scanner, but I could type it if anyone were interested. It's a letter to his parents, mostly hoping everyone at home is well and such and like I said earlier about his books.

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

Yes please.

Is it written from Holland Bank Grove?

Re: Holland Bank Grove Academy
 

I too would be interested in the text of the letter. It would be interesting too to hear how it came into your posession.