Pupils’ delight at historic Hall letter

The letter was written in 1933 by the children of St Peter’s RC School, Lytham to welcome the Squire, Harry Clifton, his mother Violet and Harry’s sisters back to Lytham Hall after a period away.

It was found by chance by Hall officials going through the archives at Lytham Library, and has been put to use on a variety of projects by current pupils at St Peter’s, which has long had close associations with the historic Hall.

“It’s a wonderful find,” said St Peter’s headteacher Liz Kelly.

“We knew the Squire had given money for the school to be built and with us being so close to the Hall now, our students already spend quite a but of time down there involved in various activities.

“But this has really brought a new element to literacy as well as their knowledge of the Hall and local history. It’s more than 80 years old, yet much of the language used is very similar to that used today and is the perfect illustration of handwriting.

“We have been looking through our own archives to see if is there was a reply but so far nothing has come to light.”

In the letter, the children of St Peter’s wrote to the Cliftons: “With you in Lytham the town is like old times. The old ivy-covered Hall will be occupied once again, and we know that you will be anxious to walk in the lovely grounds which surround it.”

Marianne Blaauboer, activity plan officer at the Hall, said: “The links between Lytham Hall and the community have existed for a long time.

“It was a real moment of serendipity when the letter was found as the current pupils of the school were visiting our grounds to help transplant snowdrops.”

St Peter’s RC School was previously based next to St Peter’s Church on Clifton Street before moving to its current Norfolk Road site in the 1960s.