| The Blewcoat | |
|---|---|
 Blewcoat School, May 2008 | |
 Interactive map of the The Blewcoat area | |
| General information | |
| Type | School |
| Location | City of Westminster London,SW1, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°29′54.3″N0°8′9.9″W / 51.498417°N 0.136083°W /51.498417; -0.136083 |
| Current tenants | Ian Stuart |
| Construction started | 1709 (1709) |
Blewcoat School is a building inCaxton Street,London, that was built in 1709 as a school for the poor (aBluecoat school). It was used as a school until 1926. In 1954, it was purchased by theNational Trust who used it as agift shop and information centre. In 2013 the building was refurbished asThe Blewcoat, a store for fashion designerIan Stuart.
The school was founded in Duck Lane in about 1688 by voluntary subscription as acharity school for the education of poor boys to teach them reading, writing, religion, and trades. It moved to purpose-built premises in Caxton Street. From 1714 to about 1876, it also admitted girls. In 1899, it was agreed that the school should move to a site that had been owned by the Christ Church National Schools Trust, and the Caxton Street site was then used for an elementary school.[1] The school closed in 1926.[2]
DuringWorld War II, the building was used by the American services as a store. Afterwards, theGirl Guides used it as a youth club. When the National Trust bought it in 1954, it was used as their membership and head office. Later, it was converted into a gift shop.[2][3] June 2014 saw the opening of British designerIan Stuart's boutique in the building, sellingbridal gowns, special occasion wear andevening gown collections.[citation needed]
