The History of Hugh Baird College
Hugh Baird College can trace its origins back to the closing decade of the nineteenth century, Queen Victoria sat on the throne, radio had just been invented and Aston Villa were the best football team in England.
1887
A ‘Free Library and Museum’ is opened on Oriel Road, giving public lectures on science, art, history and music. In the basement of the building is a school, with 807 students studying subjects such as construction, dressmaking and iron manufacturing.
1900
The basement school had rapidly outgrown it’s home and a new building was needed. The ‘Bootle Technical School’ was built on the corner of Balliol and Pembroke Road, next to the Bootle Public Baths, where our Port Academy Liverpool building now stands. It cost around £27,000 (about £3 million in todays money).
1914
In 1914, The King’s Centre, which was located opposite the current Port Academy Liverpool building, is named the Bootle Municipal School of Art, a separate organisation to The Bootle Technical School opposite.
1917 - 1945
On the 7 July 1917, Rifleman Frederick Taylor, a former student of Bootle Technical School, is killed in France during World War One. He was 21 years old. On the 8 October 1940, Wing Commander Tom Neil, a former student of Bootle Grammar School (part of Bootle Technical School), is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and received a bar to his DFC on 26 November 1940. Born in Bootle, he joined the RAF aged 18 in 1938.
Bootle was severely targeted by German bombers during the Blitz of World War Two, due to its importance as a port. The docks were the main target but all of Bootle suffered. Out of 17,119 houses, 2043 were fully destroyed and 14,000 were damaged. 460 civilians lost their lives.
1967
Plans are made to amalgamate Bootle Technical School and Bootle Municipal School of Art. Construction work starts on the Balliol building, a former maternity house on the corner of Balliol and Stanley Road.
1968
Bootle Technical School and Bootle Municipal School of Art officially merge to become Bootle College of Further Education.
1972
It’s 1972, the hair is big and so are the flares, the Balliol building is opened. Our first hairdressing courses are delivered. We’re not sure if this is related to the appetite for big hair.
1974
In March Bootle College of Further Education is renamed Hugh Baird College of Further Education, in recognition of a prominent local mayor and college governor, in honour of his contribution to developing education in Bootle. Hugh Baird had been a member of Bootle Council for 30 years and at the time of opening, was the leader of Bootle Council and the chairman of the Transport Committee on the newly established Merseyside County Council.
1988
It’s 1988, Comic Relief has just been launched and Everton F.C pay £2.3 million for West Ham Striker Tony Cottee, breaking the national record. An Adult Learning Centre is opened in the old Bootle Municipal School of Art building.
1993
Hugh Baird College becomes a self managed corporation, independent of the local council. It’s now run by a Governing Corporation, Principal and Senior Management Team.
1997
During 1997, the Pembroke Centre is opened (now the Port Academy Liverpool building), on the site of the Bootle Technical School. Departments in the building include childcare, health and social care, construction, engineering and motor vehicle engineering.
2009
An extension to the Pembroke Centre expands the facilities for construction and engineering courses.
2011
Thornton College opens - specialist centre dedicated to providing a caring and supportive environment for young people with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities in the Liverpool City Region.
2014
In February the first purpose built Higher Education centre in Merseyside is opened, the Hugh Baird University Centre.
2017
South Sefton College in Litherland becomes part of Hugh Baird College. South Sefton College was renamed as Hugh Baird College’s South Sefton Campus and is home to the College’s dedicated Sixth Form Centre and A-level provision.
2019
The College's Healthcare Campus opens, housing the college's Health Training Hub and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Life Rooms Bootle. The campus is where the College's health and social care and healthcare science courses are delivered.
2022
The Marina Dalglish Centre, located on the Healthcare Campus, opens in December and houses two life sciences laboratories and a digital studio. The centre was opened by Marina Dalglish, founder of The Marina Dalglish Appeal, a Merseyside-based cancer charity.
The cover photo shows the view down Balliol Road, looking towards Bootle Public Baths in 1905.
