pay&power: Sedgely Park School, and Cotton College

From accusations of lunacy, to the school records of the Chief Pursar of the Titanic, the Sedgley Park School, and Cotton College collection held at Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives holds a wealth of material offering a unique account of Catholic schooling in Britain during the 18th and 19th centuries.

"Ghost in the Kitchen", Plate III from "A tale of Days Gone By", written by William Foley and Frederick Charles Husenbeth.

 

"Boys Absconded", School Annals, 1863

"FOUR BOYS ABSCONDED FROM A SCHOOL.

"In the neighbourhood of Wolverhampton, on Thursday last, and are supposed to have gone in the direction of Wrekin.

"Their height varies from 4 ft. 6 to 4 ft. 8. One was dressed in a suit of grey cloth, another in brown with cord trousers, the third in black, and the fourth in dark coloured clothes.

"Whosoever shall give information at the Police Station, Wolverhampton, leading to their recovery shall be REWARDED for their trouble.

"Wolverhampton, April 24, 1863.

"[HINDE, PRINTER, WOLVERHAMPTON]"

 

Images copyright of Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives; collection catalogued as part of the pay&power project.

Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives invited local KS2 schoolchildren to delve into their school's past and research the lives of pupils and servants at Sedgley Park.