Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi: Does anyone know anything about the criteria for students attending the Bluecoat School in 1861. I know the school was founded to educate "poor" children but were they workhouse children, destitute or admitted by scholarship from families who could not afford the fees. Also does anyone know why it was called a "Hospital School". I have searched online and it tells me the history of the building and benefactor but nothing about the boys. Is anyone aware if records for the students for this era still exist and are they accessible online. Thank you. murjef

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The pupils were orphaned children, not necessarily totally without parents, but sometimes just perhaps after a father died and mother was struggling to support the family. The applications made were reviewed and not always accepted. They were most likely to be accepted if there was a sponsor to help with the costs. They must also have been baptised as this date and place is noted in the Application Books.

There has recently been a project to scan the documents for the school http://www.artinliverpool.com/a-new-onl ... y-to-life/ and in the fullness of time the complete archives will be made available online, meanwhile you may be able to find what you want https://mybluecoat.org.uk/archive/

The whole of the archives are on microfilm at the Liverpool Record Office, 3rd Floor, William Brown Street Library.

Thank you for your response I cannot access the microfilm as I live outside of the UK but it is really good news that eventually they may be accessed online meanwhile I will pursue the other websites you suggested.