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Schools underwent more reform in the later part of the 19th Century. New laws were passed, increasing the amount of time children had to spend in education.

Schools Pre 1845 School Photos

In 1846/7 the Church of England conducted a very thorough Church School Inquiry report. At this time, Turvey had a Sunday School with 106 boys and 151 girls attending as well as a Daily Church of England school with 58 boys and 9 girls (clearly still hard to get the girls away from the lace pillows). There was also an Evening school with 20 boys and 50 girls! The Infant Sunday school had just 4 boys and 4 girls but the Infant Day school had 34 boys and 34 girls.

By 1852 there were 86 older children and 48 infants. There were five classes and the school was highly regarded. The students sat at two long desks, facing each other. The Library in the school now had a reading-room and 109 volumes of mainly science, history and religious subjects and the Higgins had added a small 'museum of natural objects'. The school buildings were described as 'very picturesque'.

The master at this time, Rev. GFW Munby, says in his book 'Former Days at Turvey' that the children learnt that 'Prayer is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try'. He also tells how they learnt many biblical stories

Night classes were held for farming boys and lace making girls in the long winter evening after they had finished their work. The Infant school also held a Sewing School on Saturdays to ensure that lace-girls did not miss out on what was then considered essential education.

Munby explains how the infants learnt of the 'importance of Temperance principles and the evils to be dreaded from strong drink'.

The Rev. George Munby

The School buildings were also used for Parish Church Choir practice, Musical Society Concerts, Magic Lantern Lectures, Devotional Gatherings, Missionary Meetings and Sales of Work.

In 1864 the master of the National School was William Ward, and the mistress of the Infants was Sarah Ward. The master lived in the little cottage to the left of the school.

In 1869 it was first tried to force the lace making children to attend the village schools. Parents were not keen - the children were earning much needed wages at home, besides it also cost the parents to send their girls to school! The schoolmaster tried to chase up the errant children but attendance remained poor. On 28th January 1869 it was noted in the school 'day book' that 12 new scholars had joined 'in consequence of the Workshop Act of 1867. On the 15th March nine more children from the Lace School joined the main school class but by the end of April the master was lamenting that most of the 'lace children' were missing and 'do not intend to attend any longer'. By the third of May only 4 of these ‘lace children' were still at school. Come early June the Government Inspector of Factories and Workshops had stepped in and 11 of the girls came back. These lasses were sent home soon after as their parents were not complying with 'rules regarding hours' and by 28th July it was back to noting that 'Lace girls conspicuous by absence'.

By the time of the 1870 Education Act, Turvey National Boy's School could accomodate 252 children and the National Infant's School could teach 123.

In 1872 the Government Inspector of Factories and Workshops stepped in to lay down the rules of the Workshops Acts. This helped and soon girls started attending. It was short lived however and within months girls were absent again as parents needed their wages at home. Education finally became compulsory in 1876.

At the time of the 1881 census, the Schoolmaster was 46 yr old Cameron S. Wooton of London. He was assisted in his duties by his 47 year old, Gloucester born wife, Emma.

Miss Margaret A. Parry, aged 33 and from Manchester, was the Mistress of the Infants school.

A 69 year old Turvey lady called Mary Toul or Tone was also listed as a Schoolmistress and Needlewoman but I do not yet know of which school.

Here are the balance sheets of the Turvey National Schools for the year ending November 30 1891, as presented to HM Inspector on December 8th and published in 'Homewords', the Turvey Parish Magazine - February 1892.

Received	£	s	d	Paid	£	s	d
Balance on Dec 1st 1890	16	9	4	Salaries of Teachers	122	0	0
Grant from Education Dept	89	9	6	Salaries of Assistants	10	5	0
Bequests to the school	23	1	8	Salaries of Pupil Teachers	15	0	0
Subscriptions	50	0	1	Salaries of Monitors	14	0	4
Payments of Scholars	36	10	5	Books and Stationery	8	7	9
Hire of Room	2	3	4	Fuel, Light & Cleaning	30	19	9
Sale of Work	0	17	0	Repairs to building & furniture	66	6	1
Balance Overdrawn	46	4	4	Rates & Insurance	2	12	9
				Prizes	1	15	4
				Collecting, Subscriptions	1	0	0
				Materials for sewing etc	1	10	8
Total	273	15	8		273	15	8

By the 1920's the school children were given a third of a pint of milk each from Grove Farm.

Here is a picture of the class of 1922. There was no school uniform, many parents would not have been able to afford one. I think these children are in their Sunday Best.

My nan is in this picture, does anyone out there know anyone else?