Blue-Coat Hospital, School Lane, Liverpool. “Coloured print by T. Picken, in the possession of the Blue-coat Hospital, Wavertree.” Source: Muir's Bygone Liverpool, Plate 93.
Text accompanying the engraving
School Lane, in which was situated the Blue-coat Hospital, was presumably named after that charity school, although there was an ancient grammar school, originally situated in St. Nicholas' churchyard, and afterwards removed to School Lane, which was of earlier date than the Blue-coat Hospital ; indeed, the promoters of the Blue-coat School held their first meetings in that building. The condition of the poor children of Liverpool, their lack of education, and bad upbringing, excited the pity of Bryan Blundell, then a sea captain and part owner of his vessel, sailing from the Port of Liverpool, who, out of his hard-earned income, contributed no less a sum than £250, and, in conjunction with his friend the Rev. Robert Stythe, erected a small building, engaging a master at a salary of £20 per annum. Captain Blundell's affairs prospered, and he formed a resolution, maintained unto his death, to give a tenth part of his income each year to charity, and he was able to write: "I may truly say whilst I have been doing good for the children of this school, the good providence of God hath been doing good for mine, so that I hope they will be benefactors to this school when I am in the grave" — a hope that was realized. He was born in 1674, was Mayor of the town in 1721 and again in 1728, dying in the year 1756 in the eighty-second year of his life.
The building was erected in the year 1716-17, and the picture represents the March Out of the School on St. George's Day, 1843, in the presence of the Mayor, Councillors, and Governors of the school.
The school gave — and still gives in its new home — an excellent education, and a good training in character and conduct ; so that there are many men and women, now occupying good positions in all parts of the world, who have to bless the subscribers to this most useful and excellent institution for a happy and prosperous life. [94]Formatting and text by George P. Landow. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Internet Archive and the University of Toronto and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.
Reference
Muir, Ramsey. Bygone Liverpool illustrated by ninety-seven plates reproduced from original paintings, drawings, manuscripts, and prints with historical descriptions by Henry S. and Harold E. Young. Liverpool: Henry Young and Sons, 1913. Internet Archive version of a copy in the University of Toronto Library
Last modified 14 January 2013