One last glance backwards


Following on from yesterday's post, a bit more information has come my way regarding the Dungeness school, that was open between 1876 and 1940. The remnants of the school are situated a few hundred metres NE of the bird observatory, just north-west of the Pilot Path before it drops down into the Trapping Area. The picture above was taken some time in the 1920s.

The parcel of land it stood on was given to the Vicar and churchwardens of Lydd for the express purpose of erecting a church school, and was passed over in 1906 to the Kent Education Committee. The school was also used by the community for worship, with an alter and alter rail placed at the eastern window, with celebrations and whisk drives also being held. A measles outbreak caused a brief closure in April 1896. Those who held the post of head teacher were Miss Richards (1883-1885), Miss Bowrick (1885-1889), Miss Stevens (1889-1890),  Miss Abernethy (1890-1892), Miss Marsh (1892-1908), Miss Fox (1908-1925, who became became Mrs Stevenson on marrying the landlord of The George Hotel in Lydd), Miss Wilman (1925-1936) and Miss Bottle (1936-1940).

There is a most illuminating account of being a pupil at the school, written by the daughter of one of the railway workers who settled at the point and lived in one of the railway carriages. For the life of me I cannot relocate it...

Comments

Simon Douglas Thompson said…
No playing field there!
1 July 2020 at 01:00
Paul Trodd said…
Hi Steve, I`ve very much enjoyed your recent posts on Dungeness. Just in case you were unaware last year a new book was published on the area entitled, `Nanny Goat Island Dungeness Then and Now`, by Keith Swallow (Edgerton Publishing Services). Its well worth a read. All the best, Paul.
1 July 2020 at 16:27
Steve Gale said…
Simon - one big playing field in reality!

Paul - thanks for the recommendation, I'll seek it out. Hope all is good at Plovers.
1 July 2020 at 16:47
Paul Trodd said…
Thanks Steve, we`ve taken a couple of bookings for the autumn which has boosted morale a bit; hopefully they will be able to go ahead. Enjoy the read, cheers Paul.
2 July 2020 at 07:39
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