Gilmour Heritage
This page is dedicated to building a picture of the history of Gilmour infant and junior schools. The aim is to share photos and social history from both schools. If you have anything you can share; photos, memories etc. we’d love to hear from you.
Can you add anymore details?
Please get in touch via photos@gilmourprimary.com
On this page:
- A search of the archives
- Gilmour in World War One
- Duncombe Road Council School (Gilmour) War Memorial
- Ariel shots of our schools
- Gilmour Southbank in 1952
- Garston Fete
- Rose Queen Celebrations 1988
- Time Capsule 1988 – Southbank (Gilmour Infant School)
- The curious case of the dog’s grave in the playground!
A search of the archives
A search of Liverpool Archives shows that there was a school on the Gilmour Junior site from 1871 when it was called the Garston Wesleyan School.
The log book of the yime says that on the 9th of October 1909 “…the Trustees of Garston Wesleyan decided to close the school from today’s date.” On the 18th of October 1909, “…after a hymn and prayer, the scholars and staff marched to the new Duncombe Road temporary coouncil school to which they have transferred. 352 EDU/1/139/3 – Garston Wesleyan School, logbook, mixed junior (1907 – 1909)
The Gilmour (Duncombe Road) Mixed Council School logbook (1909-1926) states on 22nd October 1909 “This school opened Monday morning last, the 18th”.
According to The Archive Photographs Series Garston compiled by Margaret and Bernard Brett the Gilmour Junior building “…was originally built to cater for children from five years of age until they left school. However, as the population increased new schools were built, for the infants at Southbank Road and for senior boys and girls at Heath Road and Greenhill Road.” page 65.
Gilmour Southbank opened in 1938.
To carry out a search of Liverpool City Council records and see some old photos, please click on the link below:
http://archive.liverpool.gov.uk/calmview/
Gilmour in World War One
Thank you to Alan Bennett who sent the following information:
During the First World War nine former pupils of the school gave their lives and were remembered on the school’s war memorial. This memorial was sadly lost some time ago, but the names were thankfully recorded in the National Archives. They are Oswald N Andrews, James Bright, James Frazer, Harvey T Goodall, Joseph R Hartley, Ambrose Mullock, Robert A Newton, Edward Vickers and Eric Waywell.
Harvey was born in Liverpool in 1896. He was the son of Ernest and Martha Hannah Goodall (Lowe). His father was born in Montgomery, Wales and his mother was born in Liverpool. Harvey died in France on 3 rd December 1917 and is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial. His parents were living at 19 Brunswick Street, Garston at the time.
Duncombe Road Council School (Gilmour) War Memorial
Seemingly there was a war memorial located in what would now be called the Junior Department building. This is interesting for a number of reasons, not least being that there was at some point a “main classroom”. It begs the question what gave the classroom this classification and who was taught in this room and what was taught there. I have not come across this memorial in my time as Headteacher.
Again, thank you to Alan Bennett for this information.
Duncombe Road Council School War Memorial
Unveiled around 23rd September 1921 and was located in the main classroom of Duncombe Road school.
It was a bronze plaque mounted on oak crest of Liverpool at the top with a palm leaf and branch of laurel on each side.
It was inscribed ‘Duncombe Road Council School, Garston. In proud memory of old scholars who gave their lives in the Great War 1914-1918.
Andrews, Oswald N
Bright, James
Frazer, James
Goodall, Harvey T
Hartley, Joseph R
Mullock, Ambrose
Newton, Robert A
Vickers, Edward
Waywell, Eric
“There’s some corner of a foreign land that is for ever England.” (Robert Brooke)
Ariel shots of our schools
Thank you to the parent who shared this fantastic website with me. https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/
Here is a photo taken in 1945 by the RAF which shows the Gilmour Junior School building in the top right.
Gilmour Southbank in 1952
A former pupil who attended both the infant and junior schools said there were two classes, Class one and Class two in the Infants. He thinks the Head Mistress was called Miss Fell.
Nativity photos from Southbank (Gilmour Infants) 1957
Thanks to Joy for sharing these with me.
School Outing to Thurstaston in 1961
School report from 1968
Thank you to Joy for sharing this. Interesting that at this point the school is referred to Duncombe Road and not Gilmour.
Garston Fete
Here is one photo from the Garston Fete. The Garston Fete ran between the 1970s and 1990s. Can you share any thing more?
Rose Queen Celebration 1988
The photos which were taken in 1988 are of the Rose Queen Festival and the ceremony would be held at South Bank School (Gilmour Infants School).
Children from various schools in Garston would be able to take part in the Festival and would all have their very own dress or suit made which they could keep.
Time Capsule 1988 – Southbank (Gilmour Infant School)
In 1988, to comemorate 50 years of Gilmour Infants School, a time capsule was buried at the Southbank site. Details of what was in it are slowly emerging. However, it is believed to buried by gates either by the statues or in the yard between the entrance gates.
Some details have been shared as to what was in it which in clude; something to do with Diana Princess of Wales, a newspaper article, a coin and some children’s drawings.
The Headteacher at the time may have been Lillian Coultard, she was in post after 1979.
Do you have any further details?
The curious case of the dog’s grave in the playground!
In the infant playground (Southbank) there is an innocuous looking slab of stone, I’d always assumed it to be a drain cover- consensus has it that it is a dog’s grave. Who the dog was or belonged to is unknown! Equally why it is buried where it is, is another mystery!
Seemingly it was maintained in the 1980’s?
Do you have any further details?