History of Crossley and Porter Orphanage

The Crossley Orphan School and Home was founded by John, Joseph and Francis Crossley.

It opened on 29th June 1864.

It was designed in the northern Renaissance style by Paull & Ayliffe / John Hogg. The cost was £65,000. It was built on the upper (western) portion of Skircoat Moor.

The main building was 3 storeys high, 176 ft in length, by 100 ft in width. The one story office building was 190 ft by 90 ft. The main entrance on the south-east side, was surmounted by a turret with a large dial clock.

The orphanage was for fatherless children: boys between 2 and 15 years of age – when they were expected to become apprentices – and girls up to 17 years of age. The children received free board and lodging, clothing and education. The original building was to accommodate 400 to 500 children.

Originally intended to be an Independent College, the school was known as The College, and this gives rise to the name of nearby College Terrace.

The baths opened at the same time.

In 1881, when William Cambridge Barber was Head, the staff included

4 Assistant masters
1 Matron
1 Head Mistress
4 Assistant Heads
3 Domestic servants
7 Wardrobe keepers
1 Nurse
13 servants
84 female children – aged 7 to 16
132 male children – aged 7 to 14 – including 1 from Chicago, 1 from Singapore, 1 from Jamaica and 1 from Australia
The name Porter was added in 1887 when Thomas Porter made a donation of £50,000 to the orphanage. A Royal Charter of 31st January 1887, named the institution The Crossley and Porter Orphan Home and School.

In 1891, it was listed as the Crossley & Porter Orphan Home / Sanatorium. The staff at that time included

Mary Hawksworth [aged 55] Assistant Sick Nurse. In 1901, she was a Monthly Sick Nurse living at Gibraltar
Jane Hawksworth [aged 48] Assistant Sick Nurse. In 1901, she was a Monthly Sick Nurse living at Gibraltar
Jane Kirk [aged 43] Assistant Wardrobe keeper
Elizabeth McLaughlin [aged 34] General Servant
and there were 24 pupils aged between 6 and 13.

Recorded in 1905 as the Crossley & Porter Orphanage Sanatorium at Albert Promenade, Halifax.

A long article was published in the Halifax Courier [30/5/1914] for the 50th anniversary of the Orphanage.

In 1919, it admitted day pupils and became Crossley & Porter School.

People connected with the School / Orphanage include

William Cambridge Barber
Lemuel Clayton
William Illingworth
R. Kenworthy
Charles Kershaw
David Lord
Miss Georgina Gordon Metcalfe
George Bernard Newport
Thomas Theodore Ormerod
Henri Eugene Payot
John Radcliffe Rawnsley
John Tuley
Samuel Wallace Turner
Thomas Wayman
John Whitley