This was Rishton's first known Church School, which was originally sited
on High
Street, close to the junction of
Harwood Road.
John Simpson, a roman Catholic opened the school, who in 1804 had about 20
pupils.
In 1819 George Petre, Lord of the manor, built its successor, and
transferred the name to the new building.
The Hermitage was a converted joiners shop, the costs of the alterations
for it to be made into a school were met by generous donation from Mr. Thomas
Seed and Mr. Bernard Smith among others.
By 1830 the school seems to have closed and was let to three tenants. In
1851 Richard Bilsborough, who was a tenant, taught pupils, but this was
probably only on Sundays, as Richard is listed as being a Calico printer. The
building is now in private residence.
The Church/school opened on the 11th January 1886, and the first head
teacher was Miss Houseman. The mass that day was read by Father Harford, S.
J. of Accrington, with prayers in the afternoon read by Canon Dunderdale, of
Saint Huberts, Great Harwood, and Father Hothersall, of Enfield, in the
middle of October 1886.
In 1892 Father Lathouwers was appointed to Rishton and secured land in
Station Road for a new Church which was dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo.
Saint Charles Church and
School was known as The Hermitage Roman Catholic School, this was until
1959.
References
Rishton on Record, The Festival of Britain 1951.