THE Ragged School in Blackburn focused on helping the poor and disadvantaged of the town.

From small beginnings, it grew to become a major influence in the lives of young and old, over many decades.

In the early 1950s, the Northern Daily Telegraph reckoned some 3,000 people passed through its buildings, in Bent Street, every week for worship, recreation and friendship.

All this evolved in 70 years. The school was born in a shabby workshop on the corner of Lune street and Leyland Street, at a time when conditions in Blackburn’s slum areas were squalid and soul destroying.

The ramshackle building where this historic first meeting occurred still stood in 1950 and one of the school’s prize possessions was an exercise book recording, in fading ink, decisions taken at the inaugural meeting in 1881 and containing well-loved names including James Dixon, John Walkden, Richard Howarth and many other reformers.

It’s known that much opposition had to be overcome, for the plans to create the school were regarded as revolutionary.

Bygones has had a peep into the Ragged School’s year book of 1951/52.

The building then comprised a spacious hall, used for church services with its adaptable platform and war memorial; a lower school, which accommodated one of the largest Sunday Schools in the country and was used on week nights as a gym and sports room.

There were club meeting rooms, renovated by members; a badminton court – and headquarters of the school’s sea scout group – and spotless shower baths and canteen.

The premises was packed for Sunday worship, when singing was led by an orchestra, organ and a piano; the Superintendent Minister then was the Rev Philip Royston-Bishop.

Bursting at the seams in the early 50s, the school catered for all ages and though the emphasis was still on youth, members were aged from two to 92.

It had sports clubs – cricket, football, netball, boxing, swimming, badminton, table tennis, billiards and snooker. Over the 19050/51 season, its men’s club snooker team won the Blackburn Sunday School League Championship and the knock-out competition, while the cricket team won the Blackburn and District Sunday School League cricket trophy for the 19th time.

After its 1951 harvest festival, 182 baskets of food were created from donations and taken to the town’s old and needy, along with 50 bunches of flowers.

The annual poor children’s trip to the sea was also arranged – 1,200 children, in 24 coaches, had a day Heysham Head, where they enjoyed a circus performance, swimming and sports and games on the beach.

Five thousand people, old and young, were entertained during the festive season – there was a party and panto and 200 parcels packed with treats were distributed on Christmas Eve.

Blackburn Electricity Department presented its 21st giant Christmas tree, which had been standing in the window of its Darwen Street showroom.

By 7am on Christmas day, the first children began to arrive in Bent Street and by 8am the school was filled with beaming, eager faces.

The mayor and Father Christmas were among the guests and each child left with a toy and fruit.

On New Year’s morning, another 1,000 children were given a free breakfast and cinema show – courtesy of the Roxy cinema and staff – and in the evening a family party was held in a packed lower school hall.

n Do you have any memories of the Ragged School or any pictures to share with Bygones?