Meridian Index

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THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
By Stephen J. Bull 

The National School depicted on the cover of this issue was built in 1841 as a result of community spirit and endeavour. This fine if rather traditional school building stood at the junction of Swavesey High Street and School Lane (originally 'Carter's Lane').

Older residents of the village may have received their education in this school until it was condemned unsafe and a more modern building constructed in Middle Watch.

Many, including myself, remember the building as only a pale shadow of its former glory, finally being used for changing facilities for the visiting football teams, before its demolition in 1960.

How did this impressive village facility come into existence and how did its demise come about after a relatively short life of 119 years?

At the time of the Enclosure (1839-40) land was designated and secured in trust to the Bishop of Ely, the Lord of the Manor and the Vicar for the construction of "new schoolrooms". Funds were raised through the Parish, the Board of Education (£400) and public and private subscriptions. An architect was appointed, one Mr Walters of 4 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, and tenders received; although it may be noted that "the lowest tender (would) not necessarily be accepted"!

The foundation stone was laid on Tuesday 26th September, 1841 and the celebrations were not dampened by the inclemency of the weather. Constructed for 100 boys and 100 girls it was evidently a 'C of E' School and according to the report at the time was "for the promotion of religious education ....." the firm conviction of the presiding Vicar, Rev John Graham being that "..... the first step to moral regeneration of a people is to give their children a sound education". (The Swavesey Chronicle page 11). (How far the morals of the village youth had degenerated was not stated but an entry in 1849 described below may give a few clues!!!) Designed and constructed for 200 pupils it would appear that for periods of its history the seats were not always filled, especially with the problem of some pupils leaving school at 9 or 10 years of age!

Following the stone laying ceremony "the clergy and their ladies and several of the gentry left to partake of a handsome collation provided for them". (No mention is made of the arrangements for the children!) The day concluded with an evening service held in the Parish Church "attended by the largest congregation ever to be remembered in living memory, some 1500 people...". The collection amounted to £32-2-13/4d (£32.11p).

There is no record of the opening of the school but subsequent entries in "The Swavesey Chronicle" throughout the 19th century give a glimpse of how the school/school premises served the village community very much as the Swavesey Village College does today. 

Annual Treats - held in the summer/early autumn, these were a feature of school life from the very beginning. Between 150 and 200 school and Sunday School scholars and teachers, variously joined by the Church Choir, bell ringers, night scholars and the older men and women of the village usually left the school in high spirits for a church service, followed by tea and plum cake over the road at the Manor House and games in an adjoining field.

Besides all the merriment there was a serious side to the school and emphasis was placed on educational standards. An entry in 1865 makes interesting reading:-

"On Tuesday 7th (Feb) (the) H.M. Inspector conducted (the school examinations), under the Revised Code (forerunner of the National Curriculum!!! S.J.B.). Although the school has suffered financially from the Revised Code, the school now seems to be making steady progress ..... Frederick Ducker and Henry Beaumont, late pupil teachers, gained scholarships last Christmas and have left to complete their Teaching Training at the Normal Training College."

Interestingly, Henry Beaumont, Swavesey born and bred, returned to Swavesey after his training and served as Headmaster of his old school.

In 1899 an Educational Award was made to a Wilfred Hepher who obtained a 1st class certificate from the Technical Institute, with £1 in prizes.

The site plan above (original in County Record Office, Shire Hall) was drawn for a survey of Cambridgeshire schools in 1903. By the time the photograph below was taken, around 1926, the "rough wooden fence" had been replaced with iron railings.

Sunday School Treats - were first mentioned in January 1858 "in order to break the dull monotony of the village during the winter months" (very little changes!) through the liberal benevolence of the Hon. Mrs Dudley Ryder. Again some 200 scholars enjoyed a treat of roast beef and plum pudding seasoned with plentiful supplies of Mr. Wickham's ale.

In 1859 mention is made that the numbers of scholars had doubled in less than six months. (No wonder with children expecting a spread like that!) Again the children were joined by the elderly, widows and widowers of the village. Prizes were also distributed "for proficiency in the Holy Scriptures and needlework". Games finished off the evening before departing homewards.

Use of premises - As already mentioned the school served the whole community and the following illustrate this point:-
Public and Parish Meetings - covered a wide variety of topics including:-
Drainage   (1880);   Street  Lighting (1885) and the conduct of elections.

On the occasion of the Queen's Jubilee, celebrated with the usual tea for the school children, widows and widowers and the poor of the Parish, "so much food was left over that about 100 outsiders were invited to finish it off..... From 6 to 8.30 p.m. there were sports in the playground and prizes for these events." (entry 27 May 1887)

The formation of Societies and Clubs included a:-
Young Men's Reading Society (1849) formed for the older boys and young men "which met in a classroom supplied with a good library and several newspapers and interesting periodicals. The boys were persuaded to form themselves into a voluntary society into evening classes for learning reading, writing and arithmetic and other useful branches of knowledge, and now instead of having a knot of idle lads assembled at every corner, ready for every kind of mischief, insulting the passer by, and a pest to all the well disposed inhabitants, you may see upwards of 50 of them assembled every evening in the spacious, convenient, comfortable schoolroom, anxious to be instructed." (One way of dealing with the problem. S.J.B.);

Lectures, Magic Lanterns, Concerts & Dramatic and Musical Entertainment:-

One lecture in particular reported in 1855 calls for special mention:-
"A very interesting lecture was delivered at Swavesey schoolroom illustrated by magic lantern exhibitions; the subject was the folly of Pagan idolatry. Amongst others, representations of Buddha, god of hell, sacrifice of suttees, and the cannibalism of Madagascar were clearly exhibited and described." The report concluded: "The audience was very quiet and attentive, and no doubt carried away much of the useful information ....."; 

Church Activities - included:-
Missionary Meetings - the first being held in May 1868 addressed by the Rev. J. Holding, a missionary from Madagascar. The collection: £l-7-33/4d.

and Concerts and Presentations:

And Venues  for:-
the Cricket Club (1892); Jumble Sales and Sales of Work; etc.

During the restoration of the Parish Church in 1866-67 the school was used for services and the harvest festival held in September 1866.

Interestingly, after a relatively short 16 years' the school required reflooring and other alterations. This work was carried out in the spring of 1857. Parishioners contributed to the cost of f 150 and the school was reopened on 18th April, 1857 when "after divine service in the morning the children were regaled with beef and plum pudding, and addressed by the Vicar in the Schoolroom." One would like to think that the new floor was necessary because of the heavy use of the premises. However it could be that the school was showing first signs of structural problems, which were to bedevil it later in its 119 year history! The building was declared unsafe and condemned for demolition in 1960.

At the time of demolition a pictorial record was made and thankfully the large foundation stone inscribed "1841" was saved from the demolisher's skip by the prompt action of Mr Denny Froment. The stone now graces the garden of 'Mill Farm Bungalow', Middle Watch. The school bell still serves a useful purpose having been transported to Australia by the Rev. Williams and calls parishioners to worship on Sunday mornings, so it may be said that the spirit of the school lives on - howbeit in Australia.