| Administrative History | In 1871 the Chester Society of Natural Science, Literature and Art was founded under the leadership of Canon Charles Kingsley. Courses of study were instituted which developed into a School of Science.
From c 1852 a School of Art had been in existence [see Minutes of the Education Committee 1904-5 p.103 on].
The Grosvenor Museum with classrooms attached was erected by voluntary subscription in 1886 and the two schools were amalgamated and housed there. Daytime handicraft classes were held at the Grosvenor Museum from its opening in 1886.
Under the Technical Instruction Acts of 1889 and 1890 the City Council were given responsibility for technical instruction. With the co-operation of the Joint Committee running the Museum Schools, a Day Technical School was opened in 1892.
In 1903 negotiations began for the Council to take over the Schools of Art and Science and these were not completed until 1915. Meanwhile in 1912 the Day School had been moved to Queen's Park.
Evening classes in a wide range of subjects continued to be held in the classrooms of the Museum building. During the day pupils from the various Chester schools were sent for instruction in subjects such as art, woodwork and various domestic sciences. Classes of the School of Art continued to be held there until c.1960. |