Bretherton Free School, South Road, Bretherton, Lancashire
This school was built in 1653. It has the inscription 'THIS FREE SCHOOL WAS ERECTED AND BUILT AT THE PROPER COSTS AND CHARGES OF JAMES FLETCHER OF LONDON MARCANT AND AT THE REQUEST OF MISTRIS JANE FLETCHER HIS WIFE WHO WAS BORNE IN THIS TOWNE. JUNE THE FOURTEENTH ANNODONI 1653'. Many schools from this period were built by wealthy benefactors. Free state education was not introduced until the 1890s.
