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The history of the schools in Hungerford Newtown is intricately connected with the history of St Mary's Church.

The earliest mention of a school in Newtown is in 1842, when a Grant of a site, with land for a school for poor persons, was made by Richard Compton, Esq, of Eddington House to Revd William Cookson, Vicar of Hungerford, and his successors, for the provision of a school for poor persons. This was the Infant National School. It was "sited on the east side of the Turnpike road, comprising all the tenement and ground with the blacksmith's shop therunto adjoining the road leading from Hungerford to Wantage. The cottage and blacksmith's shop having recently been in the occupation of William House, deceased, to who it was leased." [BRO D/P/71 25/1-13]

On 28 Sep 1854, the curate of St Lawrence Church Hungerford, the Rev George Pearse, wrote advocating the holding of a Sunday service in the school: "The hamlet of Newtown is situated 2½ miles from the Parish Church and has a population of 300. People generally are ignorant, and on Sundays are left to the teaching of Ranters and other sects. If a service could be established, it would be hoped, byt God's blessing, to counteract the evil". The proposal was welcomed, and divine service was first celebrated at Newtown School on 29 Oct 1854. For this link for more on the development of the church at Newtown.

There is a note that in 1855, D A Cherry of Denford Park gave £10 towards funds for the school, having been reminded on three occasions.

The 1864 Billing's Directory states that the "Infant National School, New Town" is supported by contributions, and the children's pence. Average attendance 35. Martha Clements, Mistress.

A letter was sent in 1866 from George Cherry to Windsor, appealing for money towards the provision of a separate church at Newtown.

In 1869 (Post Office Directory) the mistress was Mrs Eliza Davis, presumably the same Mrs Davies(sic!) who was "Governess" in 1870 (Parish Magazine).

Designs for the school and Chapel buildings were drawn up by A W Blomfield. St Mary's Church was erected largely at the expense of Lady Pearce, of Chilton Lodge, after nearly thirty years in the old schoolroom, a new "School Chapel" was built at Newtown, which opened on Easter Tuesday 1870. This School Chapel was later to be known as St Mary's Church, Newtown.
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		St Mary's Church, Hungerford Newtown Now a private house, Sep 2009

			Teachers at Hungerford Newtown School: 1864 - Martha Clements 1869 - Mrs Eliza Davis 1870 - Mrs Davies 1896 - Miss Lucy T Rigby 1897 - Miss Emily H Cook 1897 - Miss Grace Bassett 1898 - Miss Kate Poole 1898 - Miss Lucy T Rigby 1904 - Mrs Lewis - Miss Cox 1909 - Miss L Bates 1913 - Miss Little 1920 - Miss OJ Warden 1936 - Miss D Allen 1949 - Mrs GF Lewis



		Plans for Newtown School and School House, c1899-1900



		Newtown School and School House

When it opened in 1870 there were 73 scholars, and in addition to the daily lessons, a Sunday School was held. The Clothing Club seems to have been an important feature.

A receipt dated 13 Nov 1875 from the Capital and Counties Bank in Hungerford exists for the deposit of £100 "Cape of Good Hope" 4% Bond on account of Newtown School Chapel.

In 1896 Newtown School was placed under Government Inspection, application having been made to put it on the list of grant-aided schools. The services of a certified teacher were secured - Miss Lucy T. Rigby. The first entry in a school log book was by her, on 13 April 1896, her first day as Schoolmistress. There were 52 children on the register, with an average attendance of 47. Lucy Rigby had previously been Assistant Mistress at Sacred Trinity School, Salford. The Parish Magazine points out that "The school is now free, and attendance is now compulsory. It is hoped that the new system will prove a great benefit to the little community." The National Archives has a deed of the scheme dated 12 May 1903.

The new school: The Parish Magazine of October 1899 announced that "new school buildings are to be erected at Newtown which we trust will have the effect of adding to the efficiency of the school, and at the same time to the spiritual advantage of the district.

The work, which has been entrusted to Mr F New of Chilton, will comprise a new schoolroom 40ft long and 18ft wide, a new mistress's house with kitchen, parlour, three bedrooms, and the necessary offices. Adjoining the schoolroom there will be a commodious reading room for the use of the men of the village.

The little chapel of St Mary's will thus be left entirely free for religious services and its sacred character will be more easily impressed on the children, a thing which has not been possible, while it has been used during the week for secular purposes. The new schoolroom will be available for teas, concerts, and other entertainments for the villagers."

The new school had been paid for in an act of great generosity by Lady (Dinah Elizabeth) Pearce of Chilton Lodge.

The new school opened on 6th December 1900. In Kelly Directory 1903, the "Infants School" had 35 children, with an average attendance of 24. Miss Rigby was still Schoolmistress. "Erected about 1870".
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The 1913 Kelly Directory gives Miss Little, Mistress, and says the school is for Mixed and Infants – 75 children in all. In 1920 (Kelly gives) Miss OJ Warden as Mistress.

Miss Little was Mistress when Miss Edith May Oakes started as assistant Mistress in 1930. She had previously taught at schools in Berkshire and Hampshire, then at East End School before coming to Newtown.

Miss D Allen was Mistress from 1936 until 1949.

Mrs GF Lewis came in 1949. She had began teaching at St. Peter's School, Wapping, and had been evacuated with her school during the war to Lingfield, Surrey. She was then Mistress at Eastbury before coming to Newtown.

Hungerford Newtown School closed on 13 April 1965 because of low numbers on the school register. A photograph taken on the last day shows 15 children along with Mrs Lewis and Miss Oakes. Mrs Lewis emigrated to Australia with her husband in May 1965. Miss Oakes carried on giving the children a Sunday Service in St. Mary's Church for a while. She recalled that when first at the school in 1930, children sat in long desks, water was drawn in a bucket from the well, there were hot drinks at mid-day as there were no school dinners. During the Second World War evacuees swelled the numbers attending, and they had to be accommodated three to a dual desk, with the teacher's desk used as well.

On 8 Mar 1967 the National Society for the Promotion of Education (who were the Trustees of the school at this time) had authorised the Secretary of the Oxford Diocese to receive the keys to the school and any money outstanding to the credit of the Managers.

The school is now converted into two private dwellings.

See also:
- St Mary's Church, Newtown
- HHA Archives:
     - Parish Magazines esp May 1871, August 1872 and July 1901
     - Agreement 15 Jul 1901 between Dame D E Pearce and Revd H A Sealy and others
          for the tenancy of the School buildings
     - Receipt from Capital & Counties Bank of deposit of £100 Cape of Good Hope 4% Bonds
     - Copy Conveyance 12 May 1903 of hereditaments from Dame D E Pearce to The
          National Society.

Updated: 14.2.2012