LONGRIDGE HISTORY SOCIETY

The following article was originally published in Volume 5 of the Longridge & District Local History Society Review, 1979

Some notes on the School during the first five years based on information from the School's Log Book.

[Note: Thornley School log book is held at Lancashire Archives, Document Reference: DDX 1534]

Situated in the Loud valley, about half way between Longridge and Chipping, Thornley School looks to-day as it probably did when it was first built. The plantation of trees around the school has almost gone now, so one can imagine what the first teachers and scholars saw as they plodded along the dusty, muddy or icy road, eager to teach and learn in a new school.

The school was given by Lord Derby for the children of his tenants and was built by his workmen from local materials. The limestone quarry by the side of the school was most convenient. Slate probably came from further afield but the gritstone cornerstones came from the Tootal Height quarry on Longridge Fell. Inside the building were two classrooms and a cloakroom, one classroom being half the size of the other. The windows were placed high but there was a gallery in each classroom so the children who sat there must have been able to see out. The building was heated by stoves and lit by large windows. The school yard was rough and unpaved and water had not been laid on. Imagine two and a half years without water! There were no lamps for dark days and the toilets were earth closets at the end of the yard behind the school. The rooms were light and airy and the Inspectors thought that Thornley School was a model of what a country school should be

The first Thornley School teacher wrote, "I, Annie Burrow, entered upon my duties as mistress of the above school, November 1st 1880, possessing a Second Class Certificate; also Certificates for Drawing and Animal Physiology." Annie Burrow stayed two years. There must have been at least fifty children aged between four and thirteen and she was not granted any help until August, 1882, when one of her scholars, Ann Slater, "being thirteen years of age and having passed the three elementary subjects in Standard V" was appointed candidate. She completed her three years’ training as a Pupil Teacher, taking her examinations at Clitheroe each year.

Jane Bee stayed three years until the end of 1885. In 1886 Margaret Burrow, sister of Annie, took charge and she continued until 1890. The two Misses Burrow were artistic ladies who were acquainted with the artist, John Ruskin. He gave them a painting of a bird which hung in the school for many years. There is no trace of it now, of course.

Miss Annie Burrow got very good reports from the Inspectors during her stay. They found the instruction worthy of the building. Subjects mentioned are reading, writing and spelling which were good; arithmetic (fair); grammar (pretty good); geography (fair) and needlework (very good). “The infants are carefully taught.” In the second report:

“This country school has further improved and is now in a state of high efficiency. The discipline and tone of the school leave nothing to be desired.”

Her own entries are rather sparse at first. The weather is often mentioned because this and illnesses were the main causes of absence. Miss Burrow gave monthly examinations and only deviated from the time table if, for instance, sewing bags (lap bags) had been taken home to be washed, when the children had lessons other than sewing.

Visits by the school manager and the attendance officer are noted and also those of the Vicar who visited every two months at first. The H.M.I.S and the Diocesan clergy came yearly.

The weather receives its first mention on 30^th November when “There has been a much less attendance during the last week owing to stormy weather.” At the end of January it was still stormy and in early May “wet weather”. October 14^th “To-day being stormy”, 18^th November “the unhealthy state of the atmosphere” - these statements are all brought in to account for the cause of absence and illness.

The first epidemic was measles and this is mentioned on 24^th February 1882 when “Several children have begun in the measles.” On 29^th February the school was given notice by the Medical Authority to close “until 20^th March and no child to be admitted unless four weeks have elapsed from the commencement of their illness.” When the school re-opened “one child is dead, the rest are well. Fifty children are present." On roll on 27^th February were sixty-one children. Bronchitis the previous November must have seriously reduced the health of ten children.

During the first five years of the school three children died and, after one epidemic, the eyesight of the children had deteriorated. Death was mentioned, too, when one of the managers died on 2^nd April 1883. On 6^th April “Mr. Walne was interred to-day and, whilst the funeral procession was passing the school, the children sang 'Thy will be done'.”

Accidents also occurred: October 2^nd 1883 – “One of the scholars (James Kay) to-day got his leg crushed with the wheel of a cart.” In school, though, the only accident mentioned was on the 28^th January 1884 when “One of the girls hurt her eye with the swing, the consequence is she cannot attend school”. The swing had been put up in the Girls’ playground the previous May.

Holidays were shorter than those we have! School closed for five weeks from the beginning of July. There were two weeks’ holiday at Christmas, a half day on Shrove Tuesday and on the day of the Diocesan examination and, at Easter, Good Friday and Easter Monday. The other holidays varied. Whit Monday was not always given and, sometimes, there might be an Autumn day off, or the 5^th November.

As there were no lamps in the school, the children had to be sent home earlier during the darker days and, accordingly, the dinner hour was shortened from one and a half hours to one hour at this time of the year.

Even though Whit Monday was not a holiday, some of the older children had gone to Preston on 14^th May 1883. In 1882, on 4^th September, the entry reads “School closed for a week because of Preston Guild.” On September 11^th "Opening of school; several children ill through the effects of the Guild.”

In September 1883 there was a field day for the children and Mr. R. H. Thompson (a Manager) provided tea and also gave the two sewing prizes. If there was a local fair, e.g. Inglewhite, 30^th April 1883, the attendance at school was often poor and so, on 11^th August, when it was Longridge Guild, the children were given a holiday in the afternoon. So it seems that the local people, took the opportunities offered for amusement when they came!

The few treats mentioned are the Christmas parties which were given by the managers. These took place out of school time. On the first anniversary of the school, on November 1^st 1881, Mr. R. H. Thompson gave a Magic Lantern show to the children.

As the school was used for Church Services on Sunday afternoons, the Harvest Thanksgiving must have been a pleasant diversion - 17^th October 1884: “The children brought fruit and flowers with which to decorate the room.”

We can gather very little about what was taught, as entries only tell us of deviations from the time table - or give lists of subjects for Infants’ object lessons or the instructions each year from the H.M.I.

The day began with a hymn and prayers and religious instruction or scripture. This was followed by the three Rs, reading, spelling, writing, grammar, composition and arithmetic. In the afternoons, geography, drawing and needlework were the main subjects, but singing was also on the time table and the entry for 10^th December 1883 says: “Taught the children a new drill with Musical Accompaniment.” Fine sewing and knitting were taught and knitting was an examination subject! Boys learned to knit and sew too. Infants dressed dolls and Standard I sewed a sample. Repetition for 1885:

Geography (Boys) for 1881:

W.H.Brewer, H.M.I.S. 2^nd June 1881. 

June 5^th, 1883: Object lessons approved by H.M.I. for the infants: