TEACHING

THE THREE Rs

AT THE

EASTGATE SCHOOL

by Rex Needle

 

The Eastgate mission church in 1905

 

OUR SCHOOLS today have become comfortable even luxurious havens of learning when compared with those of yesteryear but even the cold and austere buildings of past times gave many deprived children the chance to learn how to read, write and add up and were established mainly through philanthropy rather than state finance.

One of the smallest of these in the Bourne area was the National (Mixed) School which was opened in Willoughby Road in 1857 with classroom space for 200 boys and girls and was responsible for the early tuition of children from the Eastgate area, then attending the National School in North Street [now the Conservative Party headquarters] which was becoming overcrowded. It was designed by the Stamford architect, Edward Browning, who was personally responsible for overseeing the construction, and was intended to give children the basic elements of primary education known colloquially as the three Rs, reading ‘riting and ‘rithmetic.

Arrangements for the establishment of the school began in June 1855 when a subscription list was started to pay for it and sufficient money was raised to negotiate a contract with the builders. John Lely Ostler (1811-59), one of the town's biggest land and property owners, gave the site and donated £20 towards the cost while the Marquess of Exeter added a subscription of £50. The school was also supported by the charity founded with the bequest from Robert Harrington (1589-1654), a Bourne man who made his fortune in London and whose legacy benefit’s the town to this day, together with other voluntary contributions.

Work began in 1856 and the foundation stone was laid during a ceremony on the afternoon of Thursday 10th July when schoolchildren accompanied by the town’s brass band marched in procession from the National School to the site of the new building where the vicar, the Rev Joseph Dodsworth, officiated.

Coins were placed under the foundation stone before it was ceremonially laid by Mr Ostler’s daughter, Laura, amid cheers from the crowd and a local newspaper reported: “ The weather was remarkably fine and a scene of interest and excitement was presented to the minds of many who will not soon forget it. The vicar feelingly addressed the parents present upon the importance of education generally, and upon the expediency of their availing themselves of the advantages to be derived by their children from a punctual attendance at this school when opened, which was especially intended for that locality.” There were three cheers all round from those assembled and afterwards, everyone adjourned to the Abbey Lawn for celebrations, 200 children being given a treat of cakes and tea followed by sports, amusements and dancing in the evening for the parents after the youngsters had gone home.

The following year, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Rev John Jackson, preached two sermons in the Abbey Church on the subject of education and instructing the young, the proceeds from each collection going towards the cost of the new school which was proving to be a more expensive undertaking than first envisaged because a local newspaper reported on Friday 5th June that year: “We understand that the school is a most convenient one but the cost has much exceeded the original estimate (not unusual in such matters) and it is intended to make collections for the benefit of the funds at both services.”

The total bill is not known, but compared with building standards of the day, was probably in the region of £800 of which about £130 remained to be found and the bishop expressed the hope that the congregation would contribute liberally, an opportunity, he said, which was both a privilege and a duty. In the event, the two collections totalled £47 0s. 11d.

The bell in the bellcote at the school which used to summon children to their lessons came from the Red Hall in Bourne and was given by the Duncomb family who owned it. About this time, they were selling the 17th century mansion to the Bourne and Essendine Railway Company for use as a railway station booking hall for the town and Lady Duncomb, who was by then head of the family following the death of Sir Philip Pauncefoot Duncomb, was persuaded by the vicar that this relic from the building should go to the school and so it was formally presented to the trustees in March 1860.

Religion played an important role in the life of the school from its inception and in the autumn of 1859, services began on the premises for people living in the vicinity. It was also home to a thriving Sunday School and classes for the study of the bible and other worthy subjects were held regularly and well attended. In 1860, for instance, there were 220 children on the register with 22 voluntary teachers. The running of the school needed funds but all money was donated and collections for this purpose were often held at the end of Sunday services there and in the Abbey Church.

Meanwhile, the school itself was well used for its original purpose and by 1885, when the mistress was Miss Lucy Ashbrook, the average attendance was 97 and by 1900, there were more than 100 pupils on the roll but despite this popularity, it closed down three years later during a government re-organisation of education and the children were sent to the school in Abbey Road.

After closure in 1903, the Victorian building stood empty for two years before re-opening as a full time Anglican mission church serving the Eastgate district and it continued in this role for almost half a century. The church closed circa 1950 and was left empty and disused until demolished ten years later to make way for new housing development and the site is now occupied by two bungalows. The fate of the bell from the Red Hall after demolition however is unknown.

NOTE: This article was published by The Local newspaper on Friday 22nd June 2007.

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