History of Schools in Wreay

The chapel of Wreay was founded by a petition to Edward Rainbow, Bishop of Carlisle. A schoolhouse was built in 1751. Twelve men acted as trustees to appoint the Master. John Brown Esq. of Melguards bequeathed only £200, but it was the largest donation, with which his Losh heirs purchased land. A Cocks and Bell tradition marched two teams to Wreay Green to celebrate hat throws for the end of year ceremonies.

Miss Losh built an infants school at Wreay, and placed a worthy dame in charge of it. This school fell into disuse when the new Educational Act made it compulsory for girls and boys to be educated under the same roof. And to meet this view, she erected an entirely new school in 1830 - being aided to the extent of £100, bequeathed by her aunt, Margaret Losh. Miss Losh carried her generosity further, and endowed the school with thirty acres of land, the rents or proceeds derived from which to be applied to the education of poor children in the adjoining townships. This endowment is held in trust by the TWELVE Men of Wreay, with whom rests the appointment of the schoolmaster, and the distribution of the Lowthian trusts etc. She also erected a cottage for the schoolmaster on the model of one discovered at Pompeii, recorded on the Ordnance Survey maps of Cumberland as the “Pompeian Cottage”. The cost of erecting High Hesket School was mainly defrayed by Miss Losh, and the same may be said of Upperby School.