The Bluecoat or Blue Coat is the oldest surviving building in Liverpool. It was a school for poor and orphan children, built in the early 1700s. Now it is an art gallery and events venue. I took a guided tour yesterday and now I am sharing a few pictures with the building.
It was made by a wealthy merchant who had links to the slave trade, as expected. The beneficiaries were orphan children, who would receive education, in preparation for their apprenticeships. Both boys and girls would learn here, from the age of 7. The boys learned how to read and write and girls learned how to read. The boys would sign 7-year apprenticeships at the age of 14. Many of them had good careers and some of them donated money to the school. I think it just shows how horrible we might think the situation in these schools might be with our modern views, but for them, in the 18th century, this was a lifeline and it helped them have a future.
Girls were expected to read so they could enter service. This too seems horrible for many of us, but, in fact, it was one of the best jobs an orphan girl could ever achieve. Girls in service had good accommodation, 3 meals a day, clothes, money, and, if they were sick, if the lady they served was generous, they would receive medical care paid for by the family or, at least, supplied by a Housekeeper who had some basic knowledge of how to make ointments. In those days that was very important.
These are graffiti, the oldest surviving in Liverpool, since they too were made in the early 1700s.
The bricks above the door are slightly lighter in colour. That is because these had to be repaired after the building was hit during Nazi bombing of Liverpool.
In this room, which will be refurbished soon, Yoko Ono had her first paid gig. Hundreds of people attended and at that point it wasn’t made public her relationship with John Lennon. So, those people were there to see her.
The old beams are visible in the cafe. It is wonderful that those were kept.
This is a lovely building and I visited it a few times, but never had a tour before and didn’t know all the bits about its history.
We are so lucky to have the lives we have but this was a really fortunate opportunity for the children who went here. The building is beautiful and I enjoyed hearing the details about life here that you shared
Very interesting! Somewhere I’ve heard about, but not yet visited.
I haven’t heard of this building before, how interesting to learn more about it.
It is sad to think of the orphan children but it does sound like the school gave them a bit of a better life.
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It’s a beautiful building with an interesting history. I’m impressed girls were included in learning. And yes, with a kind mistress, I would think a position in service would be good. I love those blue doors.
I can’t imagine paying money to hear Yoko Ono. I was never impressed with her music.
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Service was one of the best options even if the mistress was not great, unfortunately. Having meals 3 times a day, a sort-of heated room shared with only 1 other, and their own bed was kind of a luxury. We don’t even appreciate how good our lives are compared to those who were before us even 150 years ago.
Yoko Ono had a performance, theatrical, from what I understand. It’s not for me, but the historical bit was really interesting to find out.