Bluecoat School, Chester
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| Blue Coat School, Chester | |
|---|---|
 Blue Coat School, Chester | |
| Location | Upper Northgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°11′38″N 2°53′38″W / 53.1940°N 2.8938°W |
| OS grid reference | SJ 404 667 |
| Built | 1717 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Designated | 28 July 1955 |
| Reference no. | 1375966 |
  Location in Cheshire | |
The Blue Coat School was located on Upper Northgate Street, Chester, Cheshire, England. It was housed in the Bluecoat building, which is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[1]
Before the school was built, it was the site of a medieval hospital. In 1700 a charity school was built in the precincts of Chester Cathedral; it was the first school outside London to be established by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. The charity school was moved to the Blue Coat School, which was built in 1717. Almshouses were built behind the school. The school was originally an L-shaped building, with its main wing on Upper Northgate Street, and a south wing looking towards Chester city walls. The south wing contained a chapel, and the main wing the schoolroom and dormitories. In 1733 a north wing was added. A new façade was added to the main wing in 1854, and new almshouses were built. The clock was added the following year. The school closed in 1949, and the buildings were occupied by the Chester College of Higher Education (now part of the University of Chester).[2] The Bluecoat building is owned by The Chester Bluecoat Charity and is currently a charity hub, home to many Chester based charities. Its name has been incorporated in the title of Bishops' Blue Coat Church of England High School.[3]
