St. Paul's School, Woodhouse Eaves, 1837 - 2007
Written by Brian Axon,
Chairman of Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Local History Group,
I will be telling the story of it’s history over the last 170 years. There is some doubt about when the school actually started, but for personal reasons, I like to say it was about 1837, as this was the year that Victoria became Queen, and it gives a more impressive date.
The original School
c.1843
1. St. Paul’s Church, Woodhouse Eaves
There has been a church in Woodhouse since the 14th. century, 1338 to be exact. It was decided that Woodhouse Eaves should now have it’s own church. It was designed by William Railton, named St. Paul’s, and consecrated in 1837.
2. Plan of the school – 1838
Now that Woodhouse Eaves had it’s own church, a new school would complement this for the benefit of the village. A plan of 1838 shows the basic design looking North, with the road (Church Hill) from Swithland on the right hand side. Note that the bell tower is on the end of the building facing North.
3. National School.
The school was under the auspices of the Church of England (in this case St. Paul’s Church), with three trustees appointed:- Anna Christiana Watkinson of Woodhouse, Edward Basil Farnham of Quorn, and William Perry Herrick of Beaumanor Hall. They were empowered from time to time to appoint or dismiss such person to be master of the school and such person to be mistress of the school and such person or persons to be assistant or assistants in the school at such salaries and upon such terms in all respects as the trustees think fit. The Vicar of St. Paul’s Church would also have a great deal of control over the running of the school. The National system of education was to be adopted, and the Liturgy and Catechism of the Established Church of England taught to the children.
4. Who could be educated?
Children, both male and female of the inhabitants of the township liberties or places of Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, and Beaumanor. All children had to have been baptised by an Episcopally ordained clergyman, Scholars should be taken regularly every Sunday by the master or mistress to Divine Service at St. Mary’s Church in Woodhouse or St. Paul’s Church, Woodhouse Eaves unless satisfactory reason for non-attendance be given.
5. Headmaster in 1860.
The earliest headmaster I have found was Mr. William Pettitt in 1860. Accommodation for the headmaster had originally been in part of the school, but it was decided that he should have more suitable living accommodation. A handsome residence was built on the opposite side of Church Hill, paid for by Miss Herrick of Beaumanor at a cost of £500. A name and date was placed on the wall, and those of you who understand Latin numerals will know that ‘MDCCCLX’ is 1860. It was know as School House, and is still there today.
6. Infant School.
By 1863 Woodhouse Eaves was beginning to grow in size, so a second building was constructed on Main Street at a cost of £400, to take the infant pupils. This building still stands.
7. 150 children by 1866.
These are just seven of them:-
John Hudson, aged 6, father was a farmer
Ann Himan, aged 4, father was a labourer
Mary Ann Wistley, aged 7, father was a gamekeeper
Thomas Hill, aged 7, father was a ratcatcher
Kate Bonshor, aged 3, father was a bricklayer
Jemima Spencer, aged 9, father was a slatecleaver
Peter Cook, aged 6, father was a coachman at Beaumanor
8. School Registers and Reports.
A lot of school register details still exist from 1866 (as copies only) with a wealth of fascinating information, eg. names of pupils, ages, parents addresses and occupations, when they left, and why.
9. School Extensions.
As the population increased it was necessary to extend the size of the school on Church Hill by adding a further section at each end. The sketch shows this quite clearly. The windows were diamond pattern with stone mullions. The roof had four ventilators. The very tall chimneys were necessary to control the downdraft created by the rock face behind the school. There was an entrance door at each end, and one in the original centre section. The school bell tower now faced the road.
10. Jesse Gibson – Headmaster.
Mr. Pettitt decided to retire on 31st. December 1895 (his stipend at the time was £86 year – a good amount for those days). On 1st. January 1896, Jesse Gibson took over as headmaster. Probably the best known headmaster, well-liked and respected who became known as ‘The Gaffer’. In 1903, responsibility for the school was transferred to the County Council.
11. School Photographs.
Several school photographs from the early 1900’s exist. Many of these can be viewed on the main website history. Very serious expressions were called for on early photographs.
12. Captain Jesse Gibson.
The Great War had started. Jesse Gibson enlisted in the National Reserve on 11th. December 1914 in the rank of 1st. Lieutenant, which meant temporarily leaving his post as Headmaster. The staff were re-arranged to cope with this. Kate Stubbs was appointed as Acting Head of the school on November 1st. 1915. Jesse Gibson eventually reached the rank of Captain. At the end of the War, he was expected to return to St. Paul’s. Unfortunately he became seriously ill and was in the Military Hospital in Leicester where he died on 7th. March 1919. He was laid to rest in Woodhouse Eaves Village Churchyard.
13. Ex-pupils died in Great War.
Fourteen ex-pupils of St. Paul’s School died in the Great War of 1914-1918. Their names are listed on the Memorial on Church Hill.
14. Final Headmasters.
Mr. W.F.Durrant was Headmaster from 1919 to 1925. Mr. Frederick Arthur Clay took over until 1942, when Mr. Gwilyam Morgan Hughes arrived, a Welshman, and enthusiastic singer, who encouraged the pupils to do likewise. There are many tales of the children walking around the village singing. I cannot confirm this, however I was recently informed that a Mr. Leach took over as Headmaster about 1966.
On September 11th. 1951, the National School was officially named St. Paul’s Church of England School – Woodhouse Eaves.
15. School closed in 1970.
St. Paul’s School was old, it needed much modernisation. The authorities decided to build a new school (with the same name) elsewhere in the village. So, in 1970 it was closed. However it was not the end of the building. The general structure was sound, and of historic value. In 1974, it was sold for conversion into residential homes for £10,500.
One of the problems was the Bell Tower, it was considered unsafe, and despite many protests from villagers (probably ex-pupils), it was dismantled and re-erected in the grounds of School House.
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16. School House – 2007.
Now a private residence, the Headmaster’s house and Bell Tower in 2007.
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17. Infant School –2007.
Also a private residence, the original porch entrance is still part of the property.
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18. It started c.1837.
I bet those who organised the school so many years ago did not think it would still be here today.
19. The Old School – 2007.
Now private residences. After 170 years, it could only have one name:-
THE OLD SCHOOL
