Hungerford Virtual Museum

Website produced and maintained for the Hungerford Historical Association
by Hugh Pihlens

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You are in [Themes] [Schools] [Voluntary Schools] [National School]

Hungerford was an early adopter of the voluntary schools - its National School was built in 1814 in the High Street, only three years after the founding of The National Society. It was to run as a National Church of England School for nearly one hundred years before it closed in 1910.

When the school was opened in 1814, the adjacent pre-existing building, now 41 High Street, Cameo House, which was to be used as the headmaster's house, was refurbished and clad in Bath stone – now available by canal transport from the quarries near Bath, the Kennet and Avon Canal having opened just four years previously. The National School provided Primary education only at a charge of one penny per week.

The Admissions register of 2,000 names exists (see BFHS). It ran on the Monitorial system – i.e. one master taught a large number of pupils through the senior monitors. (See adjacent panel).

There was a close link to the Parish Church of St. Lawrence in The Croft. For example, in 1855 the whole school went to St. Lawrence's church for two mornings each week.

From 1844, the Master and Mistress were Joseph and Mary Hoskyn, and the 1844 Pigot Directory lists the Infants' School as being run by Kitty Hoskyn. (Warren Whitby from Pratville, Alabama, USA, kindly contacted the Virtual Museum to explain that Kitty was Joseph's younger sister, aged 19 years in 1844. Joseph and Mary were his Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandparents!)

[In 1858 a night school for older (over 12 years) children was set up, with a fee of 2d per week. It is not yet clear whether this was part of the National School.]

Between c1855 and 1867 Samuel and Emily Brook were heads, and between 1867 and 1871 it was Thomas and Jane Pearce (or Pearse).

In 1871 Mr & Mrs Pearce left and were replaced by Mr & Mrs Newhook, who had come from Farnborough, Hampshire. They were to remain for the rest of the school's life until 1910. The Girls school head was Miss Turner (1871-76) then Miss Wilken (from November 1876).

Other references to the masters and teachers at the National School include:

1844 (Pigot's Directory) Joseph Hoskyn – Master of National School – boys and girls. Mary Hoskyn – Mistress.
1847 (Kelly Directory) Joseph Hoskyn – Master; Mrs Ann (sic!) Hoskyn – Mistress.
1847 (Commoners List) Joseph Hoskins for National School
1850 (Slater's Directory) Joseph Hoskyn – Master; Mrs Ann (sic!) Hoskyn – Mistress.
1851 (Census) Joseph Hoskyn (3), National School Master
1861 (Census) Josiah Warry (29), National School Master
1864 (Billings Directory) The National Schools (sic!) are situated in the High Street. Average number of scholars in both: 130. Samuel Brook (Master); Emily D. Brook (Mistress)
1869 (Post office Directory) Thomas Pearce (Master); Mrs Jane Pearce (Mistress)
1870 (Parish Magazine) Mr & Mrs Pearce paid £50 per annum – 180 boys and 145 girls. 9am – 12; 2-4 daily except Sarturday. Payments 1d, 2d and 6d per week.
1871 Mr Pearce was also organist and choirmaster at St Saviour's Church
1870s (NF) Option for boys elected to the Latin Foundation at the Free Grammar School in The Croft (yet lower standard in 3R's at the Grammar School!).
Nov 1871 Mr Newhook, Master at Farnborough, Hants., took over from Mr Pearse.
1876 Managers of school able to adopt a graduated scale of fees due to the good reputation and competition for places – Labourer's 2d per week; Mechanics and Artisans 3d; Tradespeople 6d.
1903 (Kelly Directory) National C of E School: Mixed and Infants – for 320 children. Average attendance was 200 boys and girls, 80 infants. "Erected 1814, subsequently enlarged. Rev. Hy A. Sealy, M.A. Sec; M. Goulter, Esq., Treasurer; James Newhook, Master; Mrs Newhook, Mistress of Infants.

1905 (MK) Schoolmaster's house refaced(?) and school refurbished.




	The old National School Building, Feb 2007

	National School Masters & Mistresses: 1844-c1855 - Joseph & Mary Hoskyn c1855- Samuel & Emily Brook 1867-71 Thomas & Jane Pearce 1871-76 (Girls) Miss Turner 1876- (Girls) Miss Wilken 1871-1910 Mr & Mrs Newhook

	The Monitorial System From the Parish Magazine Oct 1872: There are vacancies in the National Schools for two Pupil teachers, one in the Boys School, and one in the Girls. Candidates should be from thirteen to fifteen years of age. They might be apprenticed on passing an Elementary Examination in February next. In the meantime it would be desirable that they should act as Monitors in the School, and be prepared for the Examination. During their apprenticeship they would receive a salary, and would also be specially instructed by the Master and Mistress in the subjects of the annual Examination. At the close of their engagement they will be perfectly free in the choice of their employment. If they wish to continue in the scholastic profession they may either at once Assistant teachers in a National School, or they may become Students in a Training College in order to be prepared for a Certificate as Master or Mistress. Application should be made at once to Rev J B Anstice.

	Miss Turner leaves From the Parish Magazine Sep 1876: We regret to announce the removal of Miss Turner, who resigns the charge of the Girls' National School at Michaelmas, having presided over it for the last five years. Miss Turner has carried on the School with great zeal, ability and success: the Reports of H.M. Inspector have always been most satisfactory, and the managers have highly valued her services, while she has maintained a high standard of teaching and discipline, and has endeared herself to the children and their parents, and has gained affection and respect of all who have come under her influence. Before the Harvest Holiday the scholars and assistant teachers presented Miss Turner with a handsome cruet stand and set of silver salt-spoons, as a testimony of their gratitude for her past care and their good wishes for her future welfare."



		Old National School building used as a VAD Hospital, c1915

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The number of children at the school grew rapidly education was extended to a wider age range. In 1867 the infants were moved to the Infant National School in Eddington.

A new Boys schoolroom was added in 1871, which could hold 120 children.

A Penny Bank was established at the National Schools for the benefit of the children in April 1876. Annual accounts were published thereafter in the Parish Magazines. The main savings were held in the Post office Savings Bank.

In 1877 the managers changed the fees chargeable for pupils attending the school. In place of one penny per week for all, they became:
- Children of Tradespeople and Employers: 6d per week (3d for infants)
- Children of Artisans and Mechanics: 3d per week (2d for infants)
- Children of Labourers: 2d per week (1d for infants)

If there were more than three children in a household, payment was required for only the elder three. At the same time, they decided to accept boys resident in the Union Workhouse.

In 1883, because of an increased number of pupils (average 279 in 1882), a new class room was built, at a cost of £250.

The Parish Magazine of June 1895 reported that both the National and Newtown Schools had been closed because of an outbreak of measles. The schools were closed for four weeks and re-opened 24th June.

The National School closed in July 1910 and all children (as well as those from the Wesleyan School) moved to the new All-Age Council School in Fairview Road.

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The building was used between 1915-18 as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) Hospital – Miss Wooldridge was Matron. (See also: 42 High Street, and First World War).

By 1920 the Kelly Directory explains it was used as the Technical Institute, for cooking and laundry. Miss Owen was the cookery mistress.

In the 1930s, Mrs Lilly Griffiths (North View) and Mrs Pam Bishini (nee Batt, who lived at the barber's shop in Bridge Street), remember going to the library in a room round at the back of the National School building as children.

During the Second World War it was also the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) Centre.

The 1939 Blacket's Directory still shows it as Technical Schools, and John Davies (past head of Primary School) recalled that even in the 1950-60s it was used for Domestic Science teaching, woodwork, and occasionally for accommodating junior classes.

It continued to be used for educational purposes until the mid 1960s when it was let for commercial use, prior to being sold by the Church in 1973.

In 1973 the building was auctioned (by AW Neate) at the Town Hall. It was sold by the Trustees of Hungerford Church Charity for £52,000 including 41 HS. The land behind the school (to Prospect Road) was sold as a separate lot for £7,000 with planning permission for a house and garage.

Since then there have been a number of commercial owners, including:
- 1978 - A company selling fire-extinguishers
- 1993-2002 - High and Mighty offices
- 2003 - Dickins, Hopgood, Chidley, solicitors (started in 1996 behind Peter Stirland, in Bridge Street, moved to 110 High Street, and in 2003 to 42 HS. In 2006, they celebrated 10 years since partnership established.)
- 2007 - Solicitors renamed "DHC – Solicitors"

Updated: 14.5.2011