Blackpool Papers

The Sacristy Journal describes all that occured within the chapel of the Holy Child Schools of Raikes Hall and Layton Hill, from Mass times and confession to the celebration of particular feasts. It is an important record of the spiritual life of both these Blackpool Holy Child schools. This opening describes the Masses held during Holy Week, 1889 and a procession held in May with a description of the procedure whereby the children carry Our Lady's silver crown and the Statue of Our Lady. Curiously, a maiden-hair fern has been pressed into this page, perhaps saved from  flowers decorating the Chapel for Easter Sunday. 

This programme records the music performed by the Layton Hill School girls to celebrate 50 years since Layton Hill's construction in 1870. 

This pen sketch included in M.M. Basil's letter to the Layton Hill Superior, shows the hut located between Grasmere and Keswick that was used for accommodation by a Layton Hill school walking party. The trip was used as an opportunity to expand the girls' knowledge of both geography and biology, 'the hut' providing a warm shelter after days hiking come rain or shine. The girls spent the evenings 'in the dim gas light, writing up notes, drawing sections or in the case of the botantists identifying specimens'. M.M. Basil praised them as 'such generous, willing children'. M.M. Basil was both 'willing' and hardy herself: she ascended Helvellyn wearing her full habit, much to the amazement of her Oxford geography tutor, whom she met on the fells.