A History of Brockdish School 1843 to 2016
The building that became the village school was originally built in 1815 as the parish workhouse. In 1836 it became redundant when a new workhouse for the Depwade Poor Law Union was built in Pulham Market.
The school was founded in 1843 by the then Rector, Rev. George France who was a member of the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. The building was adapted and pupils started to be enrolled on 9th October 1843.
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However it wasn’t officially open until 1845 when an Indenture was created to ensure that the building was only to be used for educational purposes, a few details of which are below.
On 17th March 1845, in accordance with an Act passed in the sixth year of the reign of King William the fourth, entitled “An Act to facilitate the Conveyance of Workhouses and other property of Parishes and of Incorporations or Unions of the Parishes in England and Wales” and with the approval of the poor law Commissioners the seal was fixed between the Depwade Union, Thomas Brigham, churchwarden, and Charles Coleman, overseer, and Rev. George France, Rector.
The sum of £150 was paid by Rev. France to Henry Birkbeck of the City of Norwich, banker for the Depwade Union in 1845.
On the day the school opened in 1843 it admitted 41 children between the ages of 5 and 16 years old. By the 6th May 1844 there had been 76 children registered.
Old picture of the school
First and Second Pages of the Attendance Book
The first child to attend Brockdish School was Maria Chaney. Her mother was Elizabeth Chaney, a widow and a dressmaker. The school plan of 1869 shows that the cottage and garden of Maria Chaney was 12 yards from the north fence of the school.
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Total numbers of pupils varied from 41 in October 1843 to 14 on the 16th May 1845. In 1844 65 pupils attended during most of the year.
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There were 59 pupils on the register on 3rd October 1847, 60 on 21st March 1853, 60 in 1883 and 114 on 22nd September 1899.
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When, in November 1862, there was a third visit by H.M. School Inspector a complete list of the current pupils that were enrolled was made. This amounted to 49 pupil enrolled from 1856 to 1862.
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Between 1847 and 1853 the pupils had holidays of 1 week in February, 1 at Easter, 1 at Whitsun and 5 weeks for Harvest although this varied from year to year and there was no holiday for Harvest in 1848.
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Between 1st and 21st November 1852 the school was closed due to sickness in the village.
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According to the earliest records, which were written up in 1848, children from the age of 5 were expected to learn the alphabet, times tables, the Lord’s Prayer, the Commandments, Creed and the Catechism.
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At his visit on 13th April 1877 Rev George France gave notice that in future the children of farmers and tradesmen would have to pay higher school fees i.e. one child in the family attending school 6d, two children 9d, three children 1 shilling and all other children 2d a week.
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Compulsory Primary School Education began in 1880 and this helped the school to attract all the local children.
On the 30th October 1891 notice was given to the children that free education would start at the school on Monday 2nd November 1891.
In 1897 a new Infant classroom was added, partly built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
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Just before WW2 the school had 75 pupils.
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During WW2 things changed dramatically with the arrival of evacuee children from London, accompanied by their teachers and also with the construction of many airfields in East Anglia. To add to the upheaval, the nearest base, Thorpe Abbotts, was home to an American Bomber squadron, no doubt causing great excitement for all age groups, not least the children!
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After the War things quietened down a bit but the school continued to flourish with several updates and extensions until the number of children began to reduce as families got smaller. There were several attempts by the Education Authority to close it, fought by the local inhabitants, but finally in 2016 it succumbed.
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The Indenture created by Rev. George France in 1845 stated that the school building could only be used to educate the poor and needy villagers of Brockdish. When the school closed in 2016 it was found that this could not be overturned and that the building could not be used or sold for commercial use but only for educational use.
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The Waveney Heritage Centre are therefore now able to rent the property as a charity holding educational events.
Head Teachers
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Between 1798 and until he died in 1823 Joseph Chilvers was the village overseer, as well as being a tailor and glover. There was no school in Brockdish then but he was described as a ‘schoolmaster’ in the overseers’ accounts. He taught a few children in his own home, believed to be the Red House in Grove Road, for a few pence per week.
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In the 1841 census John High was recorded as a schoolmaster.
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When the school in Brockdish opened, in 1843, the first headmistress was Miss Harriett Simpson.
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A new Mistress was appointed on the 1st January 1860, presumably that was Susannah Rowe.
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The following is a list of head teachers from 1864:
1864 Miss Susannah Rowe
1869 13th Sept Mary Jane Ingham
1871 16th Jan George Francis – he was described as the Schools’ first master
1875 11th Jan Miss Emma Kett
1882 27th Feb Victoria Coleby
1896 Miss Annie Kemp was Assistant Head Mistress
1898 11th Feb Beatrice Mabel James
1902 1st June I. G. Atchinson – temporary head
1902 11th April Felix Alfred Emmerton (who lived at and named Empton House)
1904 Felix was still headmaster and his
daughter Miss Laura Emmerton was Head Mistress. Miss Alice Frances was the Infant school Head Mistress.
1921 Sep Mrs May Bobby
1928 1st Oct Elsie Alice Davis
1945 1st Mar Arthur H. Pilch – acting Head
1947 24th Feb R. Coneybeare
1950 19th Dec R. E. B. Brett
1978 6th Sept C. D. Burke
Other School Staff
1864 Elizabeth Rowe
1871 16th Jan Elizabeth Francis, Sewing Mistress (sister of the head)
1882 27th Feb Alice Chatten
1896 21st Mar Annie G. Kemp – 20th Dec 1899
1897 Sept Edith Harriett Smith – 26th March 1902
1900 Alice Spragg
1901 7th Jan Lilian Beckett – 19th Dec 1901
1902 17th Mar A. F. Pollard – 12th Oct 1906
1902 1st April Laura Emmerton
1903 2nd Mar Annie Kemp – 23rd Dec 1903
1906 1st Aug Maude Emmerton part-time – 30th July 1909
1906 R. Woodward – Infants
1909 3rd Aug Violet Winifred Kemp – 31st July 1911
1910 Doris Bullingham – 27th Feb 1922
1913 23rd Sept Miss G. Woodward (uncertified teacher)
1913 L. Emmerton
Rose Woodward – 1st Aug 1916
C. Bowell
1916 1st Aug Maggie Martin – Junior class – 1927
1916 18th Sept Violet Kemp – Infant class – 1927
1922 Frances Calver
1928 Oct Maggie Martin
1929 V. Kemp – 1934
1935 9th Sept Miss Emms
1936 14th Sept Miss Beatrice Stapleton
Miss B. Allum (nee Stapleton) – Dec 1950
1947 21st April R. E. B. Brett
1951 8th Jan Mrs V. Titshall
Mr Rainbird – Junior class – 31st Mar
1953
1954 5th Jan G. R. Bird
1956 4th Sept E. M. Wales – Infant class – 19th Dec
1957
1964 8th Sept Mrs M. Pursehouse – 25th Mar 1970
Mrs Tringham for summer term
1970 8th Sept Mrs Veneble (temp) – 2nd April 1971
1971 20th April Mrs E. M. Peck
1982 6th Jan Mrs H.M. Abbott
1982 April Mrs A. Cork – 1987
1987 Sept Miss J. Harrison - 1988
Class of 1909
Class of 1920 or 1921
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Extracts from the School Log Book
14th & 16th Dec 1863 Classes 1 & 2 tested on the Book of Genesis and the Church Catechism.
Mon 30th April 1866 The Bishop of Norwich visited the school and examined the children in Scripture – result satisfactory.
Thurs 27th June 1867 Holiday given – Confirmation Day
Thurs 24th Oct 1867 Holiday till Tuesday on account of new floor being put down in school room.
Mon & Tues 26th & 27th Oct 1867 Several children absent – acorn picking.
Weds 8th Feb 1871 School still noisy – Gave half holiday in afternoon as a Magic Lantern is to be exhibited in the evening.
1st March 1872 A holiday was given on Tuesday in order to prepare the school for a feast given to the children and a number of aged people by the Rector and Messers. G. and A. Holmes in commemoration of the, or rather as a thanksgiving for the recovery of HRH the Prince of Wales – 39 aged and 79 children sat down.
5th Dec 1872 The last lesson now of an afternoon is very noisy, I suppose owing to the darkness, being scarcely able to see the slates.
24th Jan 1873 The school has been inconvenienced this week owing to an accident which occurred on Monday. Some men were busy taking down a tree on the opposite side of the road when the rope at which they were pulling broke and the tree fell quite on the school. The cloakroom was completely broken down and several tiles were broken off the school. The children have brought their clothes since into the school.
21st Nov 1873 Today about a quarter of an hour before the school should assemble for the afternoon I heard the cry of harriers in the adjoining field. I was in my garden and called to the boys telling them I would give them a treat by taking them hunting. Consequently only a few girls have been for about an hour and a half.
27th Sept 1878 Received 2 dozen slates, 1 and a half dozen Royal Readers No. 3, 1 and a half dozen Royal Readers No. 4 and 2 boxes of pens.
13th Dec 1881 Smallpox broke out in the village - infested people were put in isolation huts on fordland. Rev. G. France dismissed the children.
21st June 1887 A days holiday given and the Queen’s Jubilee celebrated in the village. The children with their teachers and myself attended a special service at church in the morning after which we proceeded to a meadow where all were provided with a plentiful dinner and tea and a very enjoyable day was spent. A pretty display of fireworks was given on the Rectory lawn and was much appreciated.
18th May 1888 Several children gone stone-picking.
25th Sept 1893 The girls having lessons with the boys.
16th Mar 1894 Curtain finished and ready to be put up to separate Infants Class from older scholars.
20th Feb 1896 John Abbey addressed the children on the subject of “Temperance”.
14th June 1897 Taught children the hymn by the Bishop of Wakefield, “O King of Kings”, specially composed for the 60th year of the Queen’s reign.
22nd Sept 1899 114 children on books.
19th Feb 1900 Holiday given this afternoon on account of windows and screen being unveiled in the Church.
26th June 1902 Headmaster F. Emmerton helped with entertainments and judging with the village celebrations for the coronation of King Edward V11 and Queen Alexandra.
11th Dec 1902 School closed earlier as the children who gave the Operetta are going to Pulham Union to entertain the inmates.
18th Nov 1903 Class 5 – NEEDLEWORK REPORT – The method employed in the calico patching is undesirable; the outer square of the patch should be hemmed on to the wrong side of the garment, and the smaller or inner square should be seamed on to the right side of the material.
Infants – There is a tendency to make the stitches too small and too upright.
9th Nov 1904 The proposed removal of the gallery in the classroom will give more opportunity for movement and games with the infants, which at present are somewhat lacking.
24th May 1906 “Empire Day” – Parents and friends came to school at 3 o’clock. The children sang several patriotic songs and songs written for the day.
27th July 1909 Children to see “General Booth” pass through the village. Left school 2.05 arrived back 2.23 – Just in time and car punctual.
16th Sept 1918 Children able to have the whole afternoon off for the purpose of blackberry picking for the Government.
7th May 1925 School closed for a fortnight – greatly affected by scarlet fever.
7th Sept 1925 Washing stand with bowl and jug provided by Managers.
11th Nov 1925 Armistice Day was observed by saluting the flag and 2 minutes silence at 11 o’clock.
6th May 1936 Discussion at school about Milk Scheme.
7th Oct 1940 Owing to further evacuation from London it has been found necessary to transfer children living in Thorpe Abbotts to Thorpe Abbotts School and to provide an extra teacher for this senior group.
9th Dec 1941 Senior girls will attend a Wartime Cookery Demonstration with the Head Teacher in the Parish Hall this afternoon.
26th May 1943 Arrangements for the closure of Thorpe Abbotts School. Children to attend Brockdish from May 31st.
20th April 1945 Mr Limmer and Mrs Greenwood called at school during the afternoon session to view site, drainage and water supply of a projected School Kitchen on these premises.
10th May 1945 The school has been closed for the whole of Tuesday May 8th and 9th for the “Cease Fire” public holiday.
21st Oct 1947 Installed the repaired Wireless Receiver and refined aerial.
21st Sept 1951 Components of cycle shed arrive.
27th May 1953 Presentation of Coronation New Testaments by the Rector.
8th Sept 1959 During the holiday the gardens were converted to a lawn. The approach drive to the sc hool was repaired.
4th Sept 1962 Flush lavatories for the children installed during the holidays.
26th Sept 1966 TV set delivered.
13th June 1967 Letter from Chief Superintendent Barkway, Essex C.I.D. who lived in Brockdish as a boy and received his education at this school. He has just been awarded a M.B.E.
2nd Nov 1972 Two wash basins and a sink installed in the playroom. Only a supply of cold water. Application has been made for a hot water supply.
2nd Sept 1975 The playground was resurfaced during the Summer Holidays.
7th Sept 1976 Structural alterations carried out during the holiday. New storeroom. Infant classroom and playroom converted into one room.
6th to 26th Feb 1979 School closed due to severe weather conditions. Houses cut off, roads blocked and no public transport.
17th Feb 1983 The first Brockdish School Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race was held.
20th July 1984 Mrs Hines retired this term after 35 years of service. Mrs Virgin appointed.
May 1989 SPEND-A-PENNY CAMPAIGN sponsored cycle ride for parents and friends and the children filled their matchboxes.
Oct 1989 Opening ceremony of inside toilets.
May 1990 First annual Book Fair is held.
April 1991 First Standard Assessment Task (SATS) takes place.
June/July 1991 Children knit blanket – sent to Romania.
June 1992 Anglia TV visit school to film children and about Mr Burkes’ work before being ordained a Deacon.
Jan 1993 Carpets laid thoughout the two classrooms, great improvement.
Jul 1993 Head Teacher, C.D. Burke ordained as priest.