Original Pencil Drawing of “The Old Boys School” by Ann Basham

In early Stuart times, Thomas Assheton of Hest Bank left 80 shillings in his will to provide a school at Bolton-le-Sands. A group of trustees pooled that money with other funds that had been donated and bought the Old Kiln Yard as a site for the building. The school opened in 1637. Some of the original building still stands, but the overall footprint would have been half the size of the one we see today. It would have had very primitive conditions – bare stone walls, poorly heated by a peat fire and lit with candles.

Now know locally as “The Old Boys School” is is used on a regular basis and is available for hire.

Ann Basham is a very respected local artist using many artistic mediums portraying life in Bolton-le-Sands and other subjects.