Behind My Hindleys Phyl Sheppard traces her family ancestry back ...

THOMAS 1692 - 1754, ELLIS (1) 1717 -1753
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cottage. Parents would be able to find extra work at harvest-time, and other
seasonal jobs, which would help to make ends meet. The villages were
almost independent as a group, working together with all the tasks of daily
life.
About 1691 a school was built in the village, it was called Twiss Green
School. The school formed the basis of a much larger building which was
double-fronted with three stories. It was called 'Sundial House', so-called
because it has a sundial fixed on the front of the building, and it later
became the village Workhouse - these buildings were in Warrington Road.
Later, in 1821, a new school and master’s house were built in Common
Lane. The ancient school was supported by money given by many local
people. The largest donation came in 1727 when Henry Johnson left in his
will the sum of £826, the interest of which should be used to give free
schooling at 'Twiss Green School', for as many as it could of the poorest
Protestant children in Culcheth. It was for
boys aged from 8 to 11 years of age, as girls
at that time were not considered worth
educating. Apart from the schooling and
books, the boys were each provided with a
new waistcoat and breeches, shoes and
stockings and a bonnet. These were given to
the scholars, by the trustees in Newchurch,
each year on All Saint’s Day. As the
waistcoats were made from blue fabric (as this
was the cheapest dye available), this became
known as “Johnson’s Bluecoat Charity”, to
distinguish it from other Bluecoat charities
across the country.
A Bluecoat scholar
In 1702, William III died and Queen Anne
came to the Throne of England. In 1707, the
Act of Union with Scotland was finalised and
the two Parliaments were united. The island
became “Great Britain”, with its symbolic flag,
commonly known as the “Union Jack”.