"Hugh Oldham, D. D. and Bishop of Exeter, died, who out of the good mind hee have to the county of Lancaster, being, I believe, his native county, perceiving that the children thereof having pregnant wits, were for the most part brought up rudely and idllely; that Knowle ledge might be advanced, (the art of grammer being the ground and fountaine of all the liberall arts and sciences) and that children might bee occupyed in good learning, and better taught to love, honour, and dread God and his lawes, founded the free schoole in Manchester."
As this is the oldest online book on Manchester that I have found, I expect this is one of the earliest published references to the school. In my day, in the 1960s, we were often reminded of Hugh Oldham, as his name, pronounced 'Owldham', was the origin of the owl badge that we wore on our school blazers.