Long before the school was erected, in
1818 there were two dame (explanation, see foot
of page) schools with 24 boys and 16 girls. An annual rent of
£30 - £40 from an endowment of land was used to pay for
the education of these poor children.
1818
"Population 216. A Sunday school, supported by voluntary contribution,
in which 45 boys and girls are taught to read; the master has £7
per annum. The poor are unequal to defraying any expenses of education."
Source: Digest of Parochial Returns. Select Committee on Education
of the Poor, 1818
Daily attendance was very sporadic averaging
about 50 during its first 20 year history. Typically most of the absenteeism
was for harvesting the local crops, such as pea picking etc. Other reported
reasons for being absent, were illnesses such as ringworm, scarlet fever,
whooping cough and most frequently, the bad weather. Half day holidays
were given to see the fox hounds meet, the horticultural show and to
celebrate Empire Day. From 1878, it received yearly government grants
to keep it functioning
1833
"Population 262. One Sunday School of 16 males and 20 females,
is supported by the Rector."
Source: House of Commons papers, Volume 41. Abstract of Education
Returns 1833
However another
report quotes 21 boys and 14 girls, the school being run at the Rectors
expense
Source; The Victoria History
of the County of Essex
1863
In this year the Parish Clerk`s wife was recorded
as the School Mistress
1870
Religion was taught on a daily
basis. No child was ever withdrawn from religious instruction, though
by 1870 this was illegal The school was frequently visited by the Diocesan
managers and the HM Inspector to check on the children's progress
1873
The school as we know it today, made an appearance in 1873. The rector
of Mount Bures, Thomas Brett, gave £160 towards the building of
a school for 60 mixed age and infant children on land near to the church,
given by John Garrard.
It subsequently opened that year, with 60 children on roll.
1887
Conditions
in the School were rather severe, it was not until 1887 that a cup and
bucket were provided for drinking water.
Lessons, included knitting taught from the age of 7yrs, plus needlework
for the girls.
1879
Miss Cooke, who teached at the school left to get married. During her
time Inspectors reported, "Reading deserves special praise for
clear enunciation, good expression and easy fluency. Handwriting is
carefully taught and copy books well kept ................."However,
standards started to slide soon afterwards.
1884
Miss Bessie Dare commented that "standards were poor"
on her arrival, Unfortunately the only impact she made, was to make
matters worse. She resigned in 1886 after an inspector wrote:-
" the teacher being
poor and knowing nothing of the art of teaching infants, results were
almost nil" The local nurse used to visit to check for head
lice, in addition the children had regular dental and medical inspections.
The price of a mug of cocoa increased from half a penny to one penny.
1901
The school was enlarged by the addition of an infants classroom. The
school was then assessed as capable of teaching 75 children
1907.
Hygene non existant, none of the windows would
open, the entire school was unventilated.
Mr Barnet the visiting Sanitory Inspector on one visit left a bottle
of Disinfectant.
On another visit Mr Barnet gave a talk on the "Human Body and Alcohol"
Girls now attending Cookery classes, unfortunately they had to walk
to Wormingford School for the lessons.
1927
Miss Hilda Peck was the Teacher
1936
The Rector reported that he had "long kept this school and paid
subscriptions of of my own pocket"
1938
By now the life of the school was ebbing away, the Head of Wakes Colne
school made an inventory of stock and furniture.
The school eventually closed on
the 8th January 1939 with only 17 pupils, who were all transferred to
Wakes Colne.
Shortly after, the building was taken over for use by the parish.
Until the 1960`s
it was in very poor state of repair, but the parishioners rallied around
and it was completely refurbished inside and out, financed by fund raising
and donations.
Today it is still in active use as the Village Hall, such as Harvest
Suppers, Cheese and Wine Parties, Fund raising sales and other charitable
activities.
It is a credit to the residents who have supported it throughout its
130 year history.
It is currently used as a Community Centre.
NewsPaper Reports
Essex County Standard, West Suffolk
Gazette
and Eastern Counties Advertiser, February 18th 1893
|
Suffolk and Essex Free Press, April
2nd 1893
|
Essex County Standard, West Suffolk
Gazette
and Eastern Counties Advertiser, September 18th 1893
|
The Essex Newsman, September 23rd 1893
|
Essex County Standard, West Suffolk
Gazette
and Eastern Counties Advertiser, June 20th 1896
|
Suffolk and Essex Free Press, June
26th 1899
|
School 1922
|
School 1928
|
|
School 1927. Miss Hilda Peck
was the Teacher
Hilda started at the school in
September 1920 as a Supplementary Teacher,
until around 1935.
She was daughter of Police Superintendent Frederick Peck of
the West Suffolk Constabulary, who was based at Boxford.
Kindly supplied by Linda Pickering.
|
Free Press and Post. August 3rd 1935
|
Essex and Suffolk Free Press, January 1947
|
Dame
Schools were small private schools that provided teaching for
poor working class children before they were old enough to work. These
schools were usually run by an elderly man or woman, perhaps in a cottage
living room. They taught the children to read and write and other useful
skills such as sewing. The quality of education received understandably
varied.
Some teachers provided a good education, others were no more than child-minders.
Bernard Shaw (Playwright) attended a Dame School and wrote:-
"My education, such as it was, was like that of thousands in my
day. I went to old Betty W.'s school, and as I had 'finished my education'
when I was seven years old, I must have attended her school between three
or four years. The school was the only room on the ground floor of her
little cottage. It was about four yards square.... the furniture was very
scant, consisting of a small table, two chairs, and two or three little
forms about eight inches high for the children to sit upon...
The course of education given by the old lady was very simple, and graded
with almost scientific precision. There was an alphabet, with pictures,
for beginners.. though she never taught writing, her scholars were generally
noted for their ability to read while very young. I know I could read
my Bible with remarkable ease when I left her school, when seven years
old.
Betty's next grade. after the alphabet, was the reading-made-easy book...
The next stage was spelling, and reading of the Bible"
Historical
information for all of these pages has been obtained from two major
sources:-
"Mount Bures, its Lands and People" by Ida McMaster &
Kathleen Evans.
"The Victoria History of the Counties (Essex)
of England, Vol X" by the University of London.
Updated
08/12/2018
Updated 25/03/2021 with 1927 Photo