‘A BIG ROUND HAND’Education in Fordham, Essex

The Manse, the Chapel and the Second Schoolroom.

PAT LEWISProfits from the sale of this booklet will be donated to the Fordham Village Hall Appeal.

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A BIG ROUND HANDEducation in Fordham, Essex

(to 1900)

Sketch map of places mentioned in the text, (not to scale)

PAT LEWIS

“I copied all the letters in a big round hand.”HMS Pinafore by W.S.Gilbert.

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Copyright ©1993 Pat LewisWorld copyright reserved.

First edition published 1993 (ISBN 0 9521728 0 1)Second revised and enlarged edition 1999

All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in anyform or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise, in whole

or in part without prior permission of the author.

Typeset in Times New Roman, printed in 1999 by John Kay

Published privately by the author from48 Walton Road, Frinton on Sea, Essex CO13 0AG

ISBN 0 9521728 2 8

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CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 4 THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON 4 ABBREVIATIONS 5 ILLUSTRATIONS 5 INTRODUCTION - The Situation 7 CHILDREN IN EDUCATION 8 TEACHERS IN FORDHAM 9 ADULT EDUCATION 10 DAY SCHOOLS 12 Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion- (British School) 13 Dames School 16 National School 16 Private Education - Governesses 20

SUNDAY SCHOOLS 20 Anglican 20 Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion- (Congregational Chapel) 21 Baptists 21 Primitive Methodists 21

CONCLUSION - The Legacy 22 A Last Word from the Author 23

SOURCES 24

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AcknowledgementsI would like especially to thank the trustees of the Countess of Huntingdon’sConnexion who allowed me to study their private collection of Fordham ChapelRecords and also the facilities afforded by the Essex Record Office and the NationalSociety (Church of England) for Promoting Religious Knowledge. I also thank, fortheir interest and encouragement, the descendants of the Arnold family of Fordham,Clayton Lewis and also John and Jenny Kay, without whose help this booklet wouldnot have been produced.

THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDONSelina, daughter of the Earl of Ferrers was born in 1707 and married the 9th Earl ofHuntingdon in 1728. She listened, in 1738, to John Wesley and George Whitefieldboth of whom were ordained Anglican clergy. George Whitefield believed in andsplit from John Wesley over the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. The Countessbecame a Calvinist and after her husband died in 1746 she devoted herself, her wealthand her energy to the spread of the Evangelical Religion and in 1748 appointedGeorge Whitefield as her chaplain. She was a member of the Established Churchand never intended to secede from it.

In 1768 she established a college at Trevecca in Wales where, after training,students could seek ordination in the “Established Church or other churches of Christ.”Many students were ordained with the influential help of the Countess. In Londonshe appointed ordained clergyman to Spa Fields Chapel in Clerkenwell but the vicarof the parish objected and after two court cases the Countess in 1783, reluctantlyregistered as a Dissenter. Her chapels were known as “The Countess of Huntingdon’sConnexion.” When she died in 1791, thousands of people attended her chapels andmission stations and she had spent £100,000 of her own money to this end. Afterher death the Connexion gradually became mainly Congregational.

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

C of HC Manse, Chapel & Second Schoolroom - 1859(from a watercolour by Fordham Artist John Kay) Cover PageSketch map of Fordham 1Countess of Huntingdon’s Hymn Book 6All Saint’s Church 11Edwardian pupils of the National School 12Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel and Schoolroom (British School) as built c. 1800 13 Manse and Second Schoolroom as rebuilt 1859 14British School Sampler 15National School and Master’s House 1849, 1874 & 1896 17 Plan of Buildings as built 1859 with alterations of 1874 18 National School lesson 1899 19Robert Potter 23

CC GREAT BRITAIN Charity Commission Reports Essex1818 - 1837 - Fordham

C of HC Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion.CHS Countess of Huntingdon’s School.DPR Digest Of Parochial Returns Made To The Select Commit-

tee Appointed To Inquire Into The Education Of The Poor,1818.

ERO Essex Record Office.KD Kelly’s Directory of Essex.NS National Society (Church of England) for Promoting

Religious Education - School Correspondence File,Fordham National School.

V Visitation Replies to Queries.VCH Victoria History of the Counties of England - Essex.

ABBREVIATIONS

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ns L

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97 H

ymns

, inc

ludi

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by th

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and

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from

Han

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Mes

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. In

the

priv

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colle

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the

Trus

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of t

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Con

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INTRODUCTION‘Education is a systematic instruction, schooling or training given to the young inpreparation for the work of life. By extension similar instruction or training obtainedin adult age. - Oxford English Dictionary.

THE SITUATIONFordham, Essex is a rural parish six miles north-west of Colchester and c 1800contained about 2,500 acres of fertile arable land. The population was 539 and in the82 houses 109 families were living. This overcrowding was the lot of the farm labourersfor whom life was very hard and wages low especially in the winter. Smallpox andother infectious diseases were rife and after days of unremitting toil, the only thing tolook forward to was sleep as even candles were looked upon by some employers asan extravagance. The only place of recreation was the ale-house, 466 of the populationwas engaged in agriculture and their farmhouses and cottages were scattered all overthe parish. The Rector, Charles Onley, attempting to explain his small congregationssaid the farm work gave insufficient leisure to attend the services and “there is seldomwhat can be termed a congregation.” It seemed that the labouring population werebeginning to show signs that they did not like to be reminded of their station in lifebut there was no other place of worship they could attend. The Calvinistic Methodistswho founded the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel commented that “the village wasvery dark and benighted and the people profaned the Sabbath on all sides” and realisingthe need they established the Chapel.

Except for a school run by Mr Cone in the 17th century there is no record of any otherschool in Fordham until circa. 1800 when in many parishes the people who led theway to establish the education of the poor were the Incumbent and the Squire. InFordham the Rector, Charles Onley of Stistead was not resident neither were theowners of the two manors nor was the Curate Thomas Twining, grandson of thefounder of the famous tea firm, who lived in Fordham Rectory only in the summer.It was the Connexion which brought education and the idea of education in the formof the Day School, Sunday School and adult participation . In common with the restof the country the Anglican Church gradually awoke to the problem of providingeducation and this can be seen in Fordham when in 1810 the Rev. M. Dodd wasapparently the first to work towards establishing a Church of England school inFordham. In 1874 the Rev. T. L. Lingham, who was also worried by theNon-Conformist presence, was the School Manager when the British School was unitedwith the National School.

The population had risen even in the agricultural depression after the Napoleonic war,reaching the peak of 802 in 1871, but by 1881, in the next Agricultural Depression

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These figures would cover children between the ages of five and 14, includeapprentices but not children under five who, shown as scholars, must have been‘baby-minded’, Scholars of 14 are not included as they must have been receivingeducation outside Fordham where education was not available over the age of 14.

1851 Children aged 5 to 14 not shown as scholars were at home helping the familyor had started work. Parents may not have approved of education above their station,need the children’s unpaid services or could not have afforded the school pencerequired.

1881 By this date legislation in 1876 and 1880 had made attendance compulsoryto the age of 14 but children could leave after the age of 10 if a certificate of proficiencyor an average level of attendance was obtained without which employment was illegal.

1901 The population was ageing and numbers fell as people of child-bearing agemoved away to find employment and to widen their opportunities.

Population In Education

1871 740 Boys 81 14 = 17.37% of Boys

Girls 81 22 = 27.1% of Girls

162 36 = 4.68% of Population

1881 699 Boys 112 78 = 70% of Boys

Girls 75 62 = 82.6% of Girls

187 140 = 20% of Population

1901 661 85 = 13% of Population

the population had fallen to 699 (and continued to fall to 379 in 1961). People hadto move away to find employment and were attracted to domestic service,manufacturing industries, railways etc. To many the lure of London with its streets‘paved with gold’ proved irresistible. Education in Fordham widened horizons andmade people more confident and competent to leave.

CHILDREN IN EDUCATION

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TEACHERS IN FORDHAMDate firstmentioned Name Notes Ref

C1800 Rev. J. Harris Schoolmaster at C of H S Charity Comm. ReportsC1800 Chapel Clerk Singing Teacher C of H S Charity Comm. Reports1810 Rev. M. Dodd A few Anglican Children ERO T/A 7781818 An Old Woman Dame School Teacher Education of Poor 18181833 Rev Dodd &

DaughtersC of E Sunday Schools Education Enquiry Abstract

18331841 Anne Lappage Schoolmistress 1841 Census1845 Mr W Lawrence Schoolmaster CHS @ £10 per Year C. of H. Records1851 Jane MacDonald Schoolmistress 1851 Census1851 Catherine

MacDonaldAssistant Schoolmistress 1851 Census

1861 Ann Bray Governess at British School 1861 Census

1861 Emily Ellis Schoolmistress at National Sch(lived in Schoolhouse) 1861 Census

1861 Sarah Gardner Governess at Houds Farm 1861 Census1861 Sarah Frost Governess at Rose Cottage 1861 Census1861 Mary Pratt Nursery Governess at Rose Cottage 1861 Census1861 Sarah Rolfe Governess at Fordham Hall 1861 Census1870 Ellen Copard Mistress at National School KD 18701870 Elizabeth Mills Infants Mistress at National School KD 18701871 Anne Snowden British School Teacher 1871 Census1871 Suzanne Springate Needlework teacher at National

School1871 Census

1871 George WmTheobald

Schoolmaster at National School(lived in Schoolhouse) 1871 Census

1871 Elizabeth Perry Teacher 1871 Census1871` Rebecca Wright Pupil/Teacher 1871 Census1881 Amos Kettle Master at Elementary School 1881 Census1881 Eliza Everitt Teacher at Elementary School 1881 Census1881 Lucy H Powell Governess at Fordham Lodge 1881 Census1881 Lizzie Arnold Pupil Teacher 1881 Census1881 Emma Springate Monitor (scholar) 1881 Census1894 Harry Rouse Master National School

(Certificated and Choirmaster)KD 1894

1898 Miss ED Partridge Assistant Mistress Natl School School Log Book1898 Mrs A Biggs Sewing Mistress Natl School School Log book1898 Minnie Sibley Monitoress Natl School School Log Book1898 Thomas Salmon Temporary Monitor Natl School School Log BookC1900 Selina Knight Governess at Fordham Hall Oral from Green Family

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TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION AT FORDHAMTEACHERSDate Name Subject Reference1900 Mr J. Garratt Bees and Beekeeping ERO D/P 88/28/181901 Mrs Salmon Dressmaking do.1901 Mr Wakeley Fruit Culture do.1902 Dr Worts Ambulance and Nursing do.

ADULT EDUCATIONIn the early 19th century a new idea manifested itself in Fordham. Under the will ofWilliam Ellis, which provided education for children at the Connexion Chapel, moneywas provided to supply a singing teacher to instruct people on Wednesday eveningsin the same chapel, possibly using the Countess of Huntingdon’s own Select Collectionof Hymns. This was before the Anglicans had any involvement in education in theparish. People, with new heart, found the time and energy after a long working dayto meet together with their social equals, and as singing is such an enjoyable activitylearning must have been a pleasure. At this time singing would have beenunaccompanied, and begun by the teacher giving the note.

1846 When the Rev. John Harris of the Connexion died he left £40 to purchase Britishand Foreign Bible Society bibles and texts to be sold to the poor of Chapel at reducedprices. Their reading skills would have been improved by this and it also presupposesthat they were able to read at an acceptable level.

1878 The now disused school room at the Connexion Chapel was opened as a FreeReading room. 200 books, papers and magazines on various subjects were purchasedand were used as a basis of the lending library (Colchester Public Library was notopened until 1893). Young people and others took full advantage of this facility “tospend their evening profitably”. As they read they must have begun to question theirlot, in common with others at this time and to realise that better opportunities layoutside the village. At this time of agricultural depression the standard of living waslow, food was scarce and jobs even scarcer but they had the energy and interest toseek knowledge - horizons were widening.

1896 There was a choir at All Saints Church trained at the time by the Nationalschoolmaster, Harry Rouse. After the Rev. M.W.M. Dunn became the Rector ofFordham in 1897 he originated and conducted several choir festivals for which, whenheld in Fordham, tea was provided in the National School. Keen choristers would havefound these festivals instructional and enjoyable and they also would have enjoyedthe annual outings to the seaside which were often to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

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All Saints Church, Fordham, Essex

An illuminated address to the Rector from the Fordham and District Choirs Association,together with festival photographs, hangs in the vestry of All Saints Church.

1898 An Evening Continuation School was started for people between the ages of 10and 20 who had never learned to read but who were eager to do so and for the furthereducation of those who had left school early. Successful classes were held at theNational School and received excellent reports. About 13 keen pupils attendedregularly and were taught by the schoolmaster Mr Rouse and his wife.

1899 - 1903 The Technical Instruction Act of 1889 provided all ages with opportunitiesto gain scientific and practical skills to cope with a fast changing world, of which theyhad been made aware by the Great Agricultural Depression at the end of the nineteenthcentury, and the challenges of learning new techniques. On the Committee of theWakes Colne Technical Instruction Centre were the Rector of Fordham, the Rev.M.W.M. Dunn and Mr G Morley of Penlan Hall, Fordham. From 1899 to 1903instruction was provided in Fordham on bees and bee keeping, dressmaking, fruitculture, ambulance and nursing, butter making, poultry, carpentry and potato spraying.Classes were held at the National School, the Rectory and on agricultural sites, bothduring the day and in the evening. These were all well attended and people who weretoo poor had the fees waived by the Committee.

14Edwardian Pupils of the National School

DAY SCHOOLSAfter the school run by Mr Cone in the 17th century, the Rector, Charles Onley in1766 reported complacently that there was ‘no teacher of any kind in the parish’. Itwas not until c. 1800 that a day school was opened, adjoining the Countess ofHuntingdon’s Connexion Chapel in Plummers Road, capable of holding 20 children.

1810 The first mention of a Dames school in the parish for 20 children.

1833 An inquiry stated that there were 10 males at the Connexion School which wasprovided by an endowment and at the Dames school and two other schools, notspecified, were 15 males and 15 females who were being educated at their parents’expense.

1849 The Dames school merged with the National School in 1849 when it was built.

1866 A Primitive Methodist Chapel was established at Fordham Heath. Recordsmention a school next to the chapel but do not specify whether it was a day or aSunday school.

1874 The British School (Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion School) closed andmerged with the National School.

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Circa 1800 with money from an endowment under the will of William Ellis a lean-toschoolroom was built opening out from the Chapel. It was timber built, weatherboardedand tiled and was capable of holding 20 children. An endowment provided freeeducation in reading, writing and arithmetic for five boys and five girls, from the agesof 8 to 12 or 14, of poor labouring people of Fordham or any neighbouring parish.In 1836 the schoolmaster the Rev. J Harris was ill and only taught the three R’s to theboys in the Chapel schoolroom while the girls were being taught reading only, at hisexpense, by a schoolmistress at her house in the village. It is unlikely that theirbenefactor, the enlightened William Ellis would have approved of this discrimination.After the Rev. Harris died in 1845 both boys and girls were again taught together inthe Chapel schoolroom.

The endowment provided education for 10 children but from various reports eg.Government Educational Inquiries 1818 and Visitation Replies to Queries for variousdates, the number of pupils fluctuated between 10 and 20. It is possible that 10 childrenreceived free education and others were paid for by their parents. In the 19th centurythe school came under Congregational supervision and was known by 1859 as “TheBritish School” and was active, in spite of the presence of the National School whichwas built in 1849.

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON’S CONNEXIONSCHOOL, LATER KNOWN AS THE BRITISH SCHOOL

- PLUMMERS ROAD

The First Schoolroom and Chapel as built circa 1800. Timber built, weatherboarded and tiled. Detail froman undated photograph pre-1859, in possession of the Arnold family of Fordham.

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Second schoolroom rebuilt in 1859. Photograph taken in 1967 just prior to demolition of Manse andSchoolroom. (Trustees of C. of H.C.)

Under the supervision of the Rev. Warmington, the old timber building was demolishedand replaced in 1859 by one which was brick built and tiled and subsequently use asa Day School, Sunday School and for various weekly activities.

Until the early 1870s, there are reports of the flourishing school, parents’ approvaland the raising of satisfactory amounts of money.

When, under Forster’s Education Act of 1870, 134 places had to be provided forchildren’s education in Fordham (the population divided by six), there were 73 placesin the National School and up to 20 places in The British School, a deficiency of 41places. The Agricultural Depression began to bite and The British School foundthemselves unable to provide either land or money for enlargement or to provide aqualified head teacher, but the National School received sufficient grants andsubscriptions to fulfil the requirements of the 1870 Act. In 1874 The British Schoolreluctantly closed and was then united with the National School which, from then on,all parish children could attend. The schoolroom was finally demolished in 1970.

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FRANCES HANNAH ARNOLDFORDHAM BRITISH SCHOOL

GOD IS LOVE

Frances Arnold Sampler, Circa 1861/7.

Unfortunately none of the school records has survived. In 1905 the Trustees of theChapel Charity denied that they had ever had a school or schoolroom. Had they everseen the Trust Deeds of 1837 or actually visited the Chapel? It is impossible to judgethe standard of instruction but Nonconformist schools were generally competent. Theonly items known to be on curriculum were reading, writing, arithmetic and needlework.The last from a sampler embroidered by Frances Hannah Arnold of Fordham, sometimebetween 1861-7, which is in the possession of a descendant of the family (see below).

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DAMES SCHOOLThe first mention of the school is in 1810 when it contained 20 children and by 1818the parents of 18 children paid an old woman 3d. per child per week for theirinstruction. There was no Church school in the village and the Rector Moses Dodd,anxious over the lack of Anglican influence and support for the children’s education,remarked, “the poor are desirous of having the means of education while the childrenare young and unable to work”. He led the way himself and by 1841 the school wassupported by the parents and the Rector. The school opened daily at 9.00am excepton Saturday and would have been closed on Sunday for Church Worship and SundaySchool. It is possible that some children under five who attended were ‘baby minded’while both parents worked.

In 1849 the school merged as many others did at this time, with the National School,but I have been unable to find out where the school was situated.

THE NATIONAL SCHOOLIn 1849 this mixed Church school together with an adjoining Master’s house bothbrick and flint built and tiled, were erected in the ‘Elizabethan Style’ which was popularfor many schools built at this time. Both were built at a cost of £400 in Mill Road,south of All Saints Church on two roods of land (approx. half and acre) given by Earlde Grey who owned the manor of Fordham Hall and Archendines. (He also gave asmall piece of land adjoining, in 1888, for urinals and WCs). There was one classroom 19ft 6 inches wide and 29ft 6 inches long where children of all ages were taughttogether. This room contained one large and three smaller windows with a fireplaceat either end. Surmounting the school building was a small turret containing the schoolbell which summoned children in the playground and latecomers to lessons.

In 1851 the school was united with “The National Society for Promoting the Educationof the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church.” Money was raised for theschool by subscription, the Diocesan Board of Education, the National Society andSchool Pence. Also between 1863 and 1897 School Sermons were given at specialservices in All Saints Church when collections for the school funds were taken.

There were places for 73 children and in 1874, when the British School was closed,the school was extended to provide, as required under the Forster’s Education Act of1870, places for 134 children and extra classroom and accommodation. (cost£196.15s.) The adjoining Master’s House had only one bedroom and one sittingroom and in 1896 was extended at the rear in brick to provide three bedrooms andtwo sitting rooms to make it suitable for a married man with children. (Cost £135.)

The Trustees of the School were the Incumbent and the Church Wardens, the SchoolManager, who had complete control, was the Rector or his Curate. In 1897 a letter

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Back of school showing, on right, brick extension of 1874 and on left, 1896 extension to Master’s House.(Photographs in possession of the author.)

Fordham National School and Master’s House, as built 1849, showing bell turret over the schoolroom andat the rear the 1896 extension to the Master’s House.

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Fordham National School plan, as built in 1849 with alterations and additions of 1874. (Reproduced bycourtesy of the National Society [Church of England] for Promoting Religious Education.)

in the National Society files reports that the Rector T. L. Lingham had died leavinghis affairs in a deplorable state having borrowed from money lenders. The SchoolAccount was short and the money raised to extend the schoolhouse was unaccountedfor. A lady in the parish and others made donations to cover the deficiency. Commentin the National Society files cites Fordham School as an illustration of the danger ofthey system, as laid down in the Trust Deed of 1851, of one man being in sole chargeand thinking of the school as “My School.”

At first the instruction was in reading, writing, arithmetic and religious instruction andby 1871 a Needlework Mistress had been appointed as this subject was so necessaryfor girls when they grew up. Records of the school have been lost and it is likely thatunder various incumbents and teachers, standards could have varied but in 1874 theRector reported that the School Inspector considered the standard excellent and bythis time the curriculum covered a wide range of subjects which were periodicallyextended. This list of lessons attached for 1899 was for an average attendance of 85with the staff consisting of:

The Master - H. Rouse Certificated Teacher

Assistant - E. D. Partridge Article 68 Teacher

Monitors - Minie Sibley and Thomas Salmon

Sewing Mistress - Mrs A. Biggs

21Log Book Photocopy. Reproduced by courtesy of the Essex Record Office.

The so called “Cruel Circular” of 1893 demanded higher standards for school premisesand an inspection of 1898 reported Fordham National School in a run-down state.The school was gloomy, the windows gave insufficient light, the infants room wasdirty and the playground needed resurfacing. This was all remedied without delay.

In 1898 four girls aged between 11 to 13 left school with a certificate of proficiencyto start work. The background of poverty in the village made it acceptable (thoughillegal) that children would be seasonably absent to work on the land for potato pickingetc. and in July pea picking closed the school for several days. The Harvest Holidaysduring August and September lasted seven weeks and gleaning, which was essentialto provide flour for the year, is mentioned in the School Log Book. The AttendanceOfficer however had little cause for complaint as between 1898 and 1902, there wereonly two families, whose children attended very irregularly, who were reported andprosecuted.

Children walked by a footpath from Ford Street past the Mill to the school or fromthe other side of the village by a footpath from Penlan Lane, across the fields, to theChurch and School, these two footpaths still exist. Two very young children wholived a long way did not have to attend in the winter. This invokes a picture of badroads, bad footpaths, lack of suitable clothing or footwear and children wanderingalone across the countryside.

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The usual children’s illnesses were recorded of which mumps was the most seriousand once closed the school for six weeks. Another danger was the water from the wellwhich in 1899 was declared unfit and full of insects. A new pump was fitted.

Horizons were widening and happier things occurred when in 1899 a piano waspurchased, a school library started and in 1900 gymnastic apparatus was given to theschool. The Rector also took the children to Clacton for annual school treats. TheEssex dialect has nearly disappeared today but in 1900 the children from the parishdid not venture far afield or come under the influence of strangers, radio or television.The school master, Mr Rouse complained, “It is difficult for children to forsake thestyle of language which is used by nearly everybody in the locality.” How things havechanged!

PRIVATE EDUCATION - GOVERNESSESSome middle-class parents in the village preferred their children to be educated apartfrom the local children but few details have emerged.

1861 There was a governess at Fordham hall, one at Houds Farm and at Rose Cottagethere was a boarding school for 5 children, two of whom were scholars over the ageof 5. Of these 5 children, 4 were born in India and two of them were the children ofthe Rev. R. Parker Little, a chaplain in H. M. Indian Service. The school was run bya governess and a nursery governess.

1881 There was a governess at Fordham Lodge.

Until 1916 children of the Green family, tenants of Fordham Hall for generations, werenot allowed to play with village children and were educated privately.

SUNDAY SCHOOLSIn most Anglican Sunday schools children were taught the catechism and to read theBible. In the beginning of the nineteenth century Anglican clergy were more zealousthan in many decades before and keen to teach the children of the poor obedience andreligious doctrine which would make them accept their place in life. SomeNonconformist Sunday schools taught reading, writing and arithmetic. As can be seenin the Census figures, not all parents were willing to send their children to a DaySchool. This may have been from fear as they themselves were illiterate or they couldnot afford to lose their children’s labour. Because Sunday Schools were free and didnot interfere with weekly labour or the family income many parents overcame theirreluctance and let their children attend.

ANGLICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL1810 The Rector the Rev. M. Dodd reported, “No Sunday school has been establishedbecause the principal parishioners were reluctant to contribute.” The few children that

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he with difficulty enlisted he catechised and put them to school himself, presumablyin the Church.

1818 There was a Sunday school for 30 girls at the Church supported by the Rector’sdaughters.

1833 There were Sunday schools at 9am and 2pm for 25 males and 40 femalessupported by the Rector and his daughters with assistance from the parish and a fewcasual donations. By this time the more affluent parishioners had been persuaded tocontribute.

1851 A return of this date speaks of the average attendance of 60 in the morning and50 in the afternoon.

1870 The Sunday school was in operation but numbers are not mentioned.

COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON’S CONNEXION,(CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL) SUNDAY SCHOOL

Unfortunately because so many of the Connexion’s records for the 19th century havenot survived it is not until:

1828 That a Sunday school of 20 children is mentioned but by 1851 there was noSunday school, only a Day school.

1857 The Minister the Rev. James, depressed by the lack of interest, reported, “noSunday school inoperation” but a year later in 1858 the new energetic minister Rev.Warmington, who had doubled all the Chapel activities, reported “the Sunday schoolis now in operation” and he made many changes.

1870 Under another energetic Minister, the Rev. King the Sunday school continuedto flourish and there were 7 teachers and 80 scholars.

Owing to fragmentary records there is no further mention of the Sunday school untilthe twentieth century except for descriptions of the annual anniversary celebrationsand treats in which the whole congregation happily participated. The Sunday schoolwas held in the schoolroom opening out of the Chapel.

BAPTISTS1851 The Ecelesiastical Census return refers to 2 Baptist chapels in Fordham where10 children attended the Sunday schools morning and afternoon. There is no mentionof where they were situated. In 1868, in the will of James Grant, a Chapel is mentioned,but not the denomination, in Ponders Road at the corner of Quilters Green and in 1850a Baptist meeting in the cottage of Mrs Lee at Fordham Heath is mentioned in Baptistminutes. These may have been the Chapels mentioned.a Baptist meeting in the cottage

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THE LEGACYIn the beginning of the 19th century the Nonconformists led the way in education andwhen the Anglicans woke up to their efforts and successes there were religious rivalriesand a contest between them to educate and influence children and adults.

Opposition to the Nonconformists was shown by the Rector in 1874 when he suggestedthat the required enlargement of the National School premises was an opportunity forall the children of the parish to be educated in the principles of the Church of England.This view hardened in the early 1900s when the next Rector held meetings andcomplained to the National Society that he was not happy with the privilege of parentsunder, the “Conscience Clause”, to withdraw children from Anglican religiousinstruction. Nonconformist parents in the whole country were worried about this andwanted to be sure that their children were not subjected to Anglican indoctrination.The National Society very firmly informed him that, under the law, signed notes ofwithdrawal must be accepted without question. A recurrence of this problem is shownin a case of a 1909, before the Lexden and Winstree Petty Sessions when WilliamCrisp, a farmer in Fordham, summoned for non-payment of the Poor Rate complainedof discrimination against Nonconformist pupils and staff in local schools. He alsocomplained that there was excessive caning of Nonconformist children at the school.This was brought to the notice of the authorities, was settled quickly and tolerationensued.

When in 1874, the Connexion left the elementary scene they had pioneered the onlyDay school in the parish was the National School and as we have seen not everyonewas happy with this. In time the two parties gradually co-operated and when after1978 the Connexion Chapel was abandoned, some services were held at All SaintsChurch. The great desire for knowledge which grew in the nineteenth century can beseen in Fordham which surprisingly for such a small village, was full of educationalenterprise.

of Mrs Lee at Fordham Heath is mentioned in Baptist minutes. These may have beenthe Chapels mentioned.

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS1866 A chapel was established at Fordham Heath but it is not clear whether a schoolmentioned was a Day or a Sunday school. (see Day schools paragraph).

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Robert Potter in his late seventies when living at the Printers’Almshouses, High Road, Wood Green, Tottenham, London.

Further reading:

FORDHAM W.I., Village History Competition, 1957.

GUNARY, M., The Story of Fordham, 1954.

LEWIS, P., This Barren Land, 1997.

My interest in education in Fordham in the Nineteenth Century began with my GreatGreat Grandfather, Robert Potter who was baptised at All Saints Church, Fordham onthe 16th April 1797. He was the son of a gardener, William Potter and his wife SarahDavey who were married at All Saints Church on 17th January 1782.

His signature appears on the indenture when he was apprenticed in 1812 for sevenyears, to Robert Swinborne and William Walter, printers, bookbinders and stationersof 15 High Street, Colchester and I was curious to know where he went to school andbegan my research. This has taken some time and I have to report that I still do notknow, for sure, where he was educated but I have made discoveries, enjoyed the questand made many friends.

A last word from the author

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SOURCESAnalysis of Education Returns 1870. ERO

T/Z 178/4Baptist - Eld Lane Minutes. ERO DNB

4/6.7.Beaumont W. & Taylor A.

“Wormingford”.Brown A.F.J. “Meagre Harvest” ERO

1990.C of HC Fordham Chapel Minutes.C of HC Letters re. Charity Commission

1905.C of HC Minutes and Correspondence.C of HC Registers. ERO T/R 228/1 & Reel

10.CCCensus Returns Fordham 1851, 1861,

1871, 1881, 1901.Cuttle Collection. (Newspaper Cuttings).

ERO T/P 181/5/19.Descendant of the Green Family - Oral

1990.Diocesan Educational Reform and General

Census Return 1841. ERO D/ACm 12.

DPREcclesiastical Census Return 1851. ERO

T/A 470/3 Vol. 3.Education Enquiry Abstract 1833 NS.Elementary Education Acts: 1876, 1880,

1891.Essex Congregational Magazine 1874, No.

76. Vol. 8.Essex Congregational Union Printed

reports 1836 - 1910. EssexCounty Library Chelmsford. A.A. 285.8, & ERO D/NC 9/1.

Essex Review 1914. Vol. 23, p.213.Fordham National School Logbook 1898.

ERO E/ML 128/1.Fordham National School Trust Deed.

Enrolled 25/2/1851 NS.Fordham Vestry Minute Book and Preach-

ers Book ERO D/P 372/I/13-16.Forster’s Elementary Education Act 1870.Horne, Pamela. ‘The Victorian Country

Child.’ 1985.K D Fordham 1855-1952.Monumental Inscriptions. All Saints

Church, Fordham. ERO T/P232/4.

NSNS Letter 14/3/1874.Pastor Rivers, last Pastor of the Chapel -

Oral 1987.Primitive Methodist Yearly Schedule ERO

D/NM 2/2/24.Printed Census Reports 1801 - 1971. ERO.Reports of Education Committee of

Council, Public Record OfficeED 21/5121.

Trust Deed Relating to Charities, Schooland Chapel of LadyHuntingdon’s ConnexionFordham. 7WM IV 731. 1837.

V Fordham 1723 & 1810. ERO T/A 778.VCH Essex Vol. 2 p.349.W I Village History Competition. Ford-

ham 1957.Wakes Colne Technical Instruction Centre

- Minutes. ERO D/P 88/28/18.Whites Directory of Essex 1863, 1848.Will of James Grant, Farmer of West

Bergholt and Fordham. Proved28.3.1868.

Will of William Ellis 1796. ERO/ D/ABR.Note: Material used belonging to The

Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion isin the Private Collection of The Trusteesof the Countess of Huntingdon’s Con-nexion.

Price £3

ISBN 0 9521728 2 8