Old Inverclyde Schools

Inverclyde has seen many schools since the introduction of compulsory education in the nineteenth century. The Museum also has school related memorabilia and other items relating to education in Inverclyde in the Collection. On this page you can see some images of schools from a previous era along with class photographs and items of education.

The text and images on this page are the copyright of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery. For enquiries about this collection please contact us at wattinstitution@inverclyde.gov.uk.

Belville Street School, Greenock - At the opening of the school in August 1876 it was stated that the children should be taught "useful rather than ornamented sewed work", and the pupils were urged to cultivate habits of cleanliness and good manners. Colour transparency by Eugen Jean Méhat (1920-2000) - 1968 - 2008.72.66 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Belville Street School, Greenock

Belville Street School, Greenock - At the opening of the school in August 1876 it was stated that the children should be taught "useful rather than ornamented sewed work", and the pupils were urged to cultivate habits of cleanliness and good manners. Colour transparency by Eugen Jean Méhat (1920-2000) - 1968 - 2008.72.66 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Holmscroft School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) photographed on the 29 March 1965 - 2008.72.140. Early instructions said that the children were to be encouraged in thrift, cleanliness and self-respect and that "all coarseness of language, deceit and cruelty should be specially reproved." - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Holmscroft School, Greenock

Holmscroft School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) photographed on the 29 March 1965 - 2008.72.140. Early instructions said that the children were to be encouraged in thrift, cleanliness and self-respect and that "all coarseness of language, deceit and cruelty should be specially reproved." - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

East Shaw Street School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) taken on 25 March 1968 - 2008.72.175. East Shaw Street School was established in 1878 and in ithe early years it supplied "penny dinners" for pupils whose parents were unemployed or in destitute circumstances.

East Shaw Street School, Greenock

East Shaw Street School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) taken on 25 March 1968 - 2008.72.175. East Shaw Street School was established in 1878 and in ithe early years it supplied "penny dinners" for pupils whose parents were unemployed or in destitute circumstances.

Mearns Street School, Mearns Street, Greenock - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 1968 - 2008.72.335. Mearns Street School was built in the 1870s at a cost of £11,365 8s 2d. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Mearns Street School, Mearns Street, Greenock

Mearns Street School, Mearns Street, Greenock - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 1968 - 2008.72.335. Mearns Street School was built in the 1870s at a cost of £11,365 8s 2d. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Copper medal inscribed 'Glasgow Choral Festival won by Belville Place Public School Greenock 1915'. Reverse inscribed 'School Choirs Open Challenge Class'. - 2006.285

Medal won by Belville Place School, Greenock

Copper medal inscribed 'Glasgow Choral Festival won by Belville Place Public School Greenock 1915'. Reverse inscribed 'School Choirs Open Challenge Class'. - 2006.285

Highlanders' Academy, Greenock in 1968 - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 2008.72.472

Highlanders' Academy, Greenock

Highlanders' Academy, Greenock in 1968 - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 2008.72.472

James Slater by William Gillies Gair (1842-1906) - Oil on canvas - 1977.840 - James Slater graduated M.A. at Glasgow University in 1861. He was a teacher at Greenock Academy from 1855 to 1887 and at Kilblain Academy, Greenock from 1858 to 1871, becoming Joint Head Master and then Rector of Kilblain Academy, Greenock in 1890. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

James Slater (1838-1911)

James Slater by William Gillies Gair (1842-1906) - Oil on canvas - 1977.840 - James Slater graduated M.A. at Glasgow University in 1861. He was a teacher at Greenock Academy from 1855 to 1887 and at Kilblain Academy, Greenock from 1858 to 1871, becoming Joint Head Master and then Rector of Kilblain Academy, Greenock in 1890. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Plaster bas-relief plaque by George Mossman (1823 -1863), of James Brown LL.D., Master of Greenock Grammar School, and a group of pupils including Norman Macbeth, James Fraser Paton and William T. Johnston. - 1978.271 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

James Lockhart Brown and Pupils

Plaster bas-relief plaque by George Mossman (1823 -1863), of James Brown LL.D., Master of Greenock Grammar School, and a group of pupils including Norman Macbeth, James Fraser Paton and William T. Johnston. - 1978.271 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Kilblain Academy Buchanan Medal for General Excellence awarded to James Slater Dunlop. - Silver - 1978.640 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Kilblain Academy Medal

Kilblain Academy Buchanan Medal for General Excellence awarded to James Slater Dunlop. - Silver - 1978.640 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.

Belville Street School, Greenock - At the opening of the school in August 1876 it was stated that the children should be taught "useful rather than ornamented sewed work", and the pupils were urged to cultivate habits of cleanliness and good manners. Colour transparency by Eugen Jean Méhat (1920-2000) - 1968 - 2008.72.66 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. Holmscroft School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) photographed on the 29 March 1965 - 2008.72.140. Early instructions said that the children were to be encouraged in thrift, cleanliness and self-respect and that "all coarseness of language, deceit and cruelty should be specially reproved." - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. East Shaw Street School, Greenock - Colour transparency by Eugene Jean Méhat (1920-2000) taken on 25 March 1968 - 2008.72.175. East Shaw Street School was established in 1878 and in ithe early years it supplied "penny dinners" for pupils whose parents were unemployed or in destitute circumstances. Mearns Street School, Mearns Street, Greenock - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 1968 - 2008.72.335. Mearns Street School was built in the 1870s at a cost of £11,365 8s 2d. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. Copper medal inscribed 'Glasgow Choral Festival won by Belville Place Public School Greenock 1915'. Reverse inscribed 'School Choirs Open Challenge Class'. - 2006.285 Highlanders' Academy, Greenock in 1968 - Colour transparency by E.J. Méhat - 2008.72.472 James Slater by William Gillies Gair (1842-1906) - Oil on canvas - 1977.840 - James Slater graduated M.A. at Glasgow University in 1861. He was a teacher at Greenock Academy from 1855 to 1887 and at Kilblain Academy, Greenock from 1858 to 1871, becoming Joint Head Master and then Rector of Kilblain Academy, Greenock in 1890. - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. Plaster bas-relief plaque by George Mossman (1823 -1863), of James Brown LL.D., Master of Greenock Grammar School, and a group of pupils including Norman Macbeth, James Fraser Paton and William T. Johnston. - 1978.271 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock. Kilblain Academy Buchanan Medal for General Excellence awarded to James Slater Dunlop. - Silver - 1978.640 - © McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Greenock.