Russell Scott Memorial Schools

Prestwich St, Denton
The schools were built in a free Gothic style to a design by the architect Peter Pons (1827/28-1890) whose practice was on John Dalton St, Manchester. The contractors were Messrs Holmes and Webster of Ashton-under-Lyne. The foundation stone was laid on 3 Sep 1881 by Miss Isabella Scott, sister of the Revd Lawrence Scott, and it was opened on the 22 Jul 1882 by Richard Peacock JP (MP, 1885/89) of Gorton Hall. The cost of the building was funded by Isabella Civil Scott, née Prestwich (widow of Russell Scott), the Revd Lawrence Scott and certain of his friends. The first headmistress of the infant school was Miss I Nicol. The first headmaster of the junior school was William 'Bangy' Willis and the second was Sidney Pitt.

Left and top right, 7 May 1978; bottom right, 1985.

The schools survived construction of the M67 motorway between 1978 and 1981 but latterly they were deemed to be too close to it. Consequently, they closed in 1981 and were demolished in 1986. A replacement Russell Scott primary school was built on Clare St, off Ashton Rd.