The school was ercted by Mr Hesketh, Mr Bellingham and other inhabitants in 1712. Gastrell's survey a few years later noted, 'No settled allowance only 10li. p[er] an[num] raised by Contrib[utions], 5li. of wch. Mrs Bellingham, Widow, has bound herself to pay during life; and Mr Pilkington payes 1li. p[er] an[num] whilst he continues Rectour; the rest is raised by [the] Inhabitants. Only 4li. 10s. was given by Mrs Hesketh, [the] Int[erest of which is paid] to [the] Master, who is nominated by Mrs Bellingham and Mr Pilkington. The School is free only to Contributors who live in the Village'. Gastrell, Notitia Cestrienses, II.iii, 367-8.