Newbottle school
Extracts from the Newbottle School board (from 1877)
at the first meeting the following people were present.
John Wardle a grocer from Newbottle.
Thomas Hunter a grocer from Newbottle
William Lishman the mining engineer
The rev Alfred Blagden a clerk in holy orders
Mr John Robinson legge clerk of the guardians of the Houghton le spring union
Thomas Young engineer of bunker Hill
were all voted as members of the board.
The land designated for the building of the school belonged to Mrs Byers. And was situated on the west of Newbottle lane between Sedgeletch lane and the Earl of Durham's private road
opposite Celler hill house.
the school would accommodate 200 children .
Mary Ann Robson was the first mistress of the infant school with a salary of £60.
James Gray was the care taker.
Edith C Stokoe the daughter of William Stokoe of the Quay would be a pupil teacher.
school fees for the children were as follows under 7's were 2d per week
over 7's were 3d per week
if more three children from the same family attended the youngest would be free.
if four children from the same family the eldest would be free.
Mrs Dyson made application to the board to remit the fees of her child, in consequence of her husband having gone to America. her application was refused, and that she be sent regularly to school to pay off the arrears on receipt of a remittance from her husband
Mrs hunter the wife of a quarryman residing at Newbottle attended the meeting and requested the board to allow her to pay so much per fortnight for the books etc she was given two months wherein to pay same.
extracts from the Newbottle council girls department log book 1880 - 1914.
28th April 1882
Refused to admit E Green a scholar from St Matthews without a note from the master, sent her for one but she did not return.
13th October 1882
Received notice that the guardian of Houghton -le- Spring Union would pay the school fees of Elizabeth Stevenson from October till December 25th 1882.
18th march 1887.
Sarah Jane Bradley has been suffering from inflammation and has not yet been out of bed since the commencement of her illness
29th January 1888.
Elizabeth Bradley has left school, having been sent to a house in Durham.
6th December 1888
The doctor certifies that neither Sarah nor Esther Patterson will be able to attend school for some months- Sarah is suffering from weak eyes and Esther from an aggravated form of ringworm in the head. Mary Willis is still away from school- her mother determined not to pay the school fees.
If this wets your appetite, you can buy a booklet published by Andy Fletcher, which not only includes the above, but over a greater number of years. from 1877 to the 1900's contact
Andy for more details.