St Peter's
There was a National School in Coggeshall from 1811. Then in 1838-39 two pieces of ground off Stoneham Street where the old workhouse stood were conveyed to the vicar and churchwardens of Coggeshall as a site for a school for the education of the children of the poor on the principals of the 'National Society' hence the National School. It did not provide education for all as it was only 'for the education of children of the Established Church.' Coggeshall had many non-conformists at that time and their children were thus debarred from attending. A separate 'British School' on Queen Street was set up by the independents also in 1839 and this was open to children of any religion or of none.
The first stone for the new school was laid in June 1839 by Miss Hanbury of Holfield Grange. In 1847 a site was acquired for a residence for the master and mistress and in 1875 an adjoining cottage and garden on Stoneham Street was acquired probably for a caretaker.
The school passed to Essex County Council in 1903. The two buildings on the site were used for boys and girls. In March 1928 the boys school closed and in April the school reopened as the Coggeshall Church of England Mixed Schools (boys girls and infants) under a single headmaster and using the buildings of the former girls' and infants' schools. The boys school was taken back into use in 1938. In 1948 the managers renamed the school the Great Coggeshall St Peters' School and in 1956 it was again renamed Coggeshall St Peters' Church of England School.
Under these various names it was used by generations of Coggeshall children - four generations of my own family went there. It closed in December 1985 when a new St Peter's School was opened, built on part of the site of the old 'Council School' on St Peter's Road. After that the old buildings fell into disuse.
I took the black and white photos in September 1989 just before the buildings were converted for housing and the colour photos I took in 1990 when conversion was underway.
Barbara Hodges writes; 'I went to the Church school Stoneham Street from 1940 until 1948, Mr. Curtis was the headmaster and Mrs Curtis was the head mistress. They had a son who sadly died when playing in the playground. Mr & Mrs Curtis were ahead of their time, they organized a system so we could listen to interesting radio programmes in our classrooms and broadcast messages to each class. We were encouraged to speak to all the pupils over the 'tannoy' system during the morning assembly. It resulted in some of us gaining a lot of confidence.'
Angela Moore writes; 'It was my brother Trevor who sadly found Mr Curtis's son in the playground while on his milk round.' Playing with his dog, the little lad had somehow been strangled by his own scarf.
Carol Murray writes; 'the little boy... was Colin John Curtis and he died on 9 January 1951 aged 4. With the help of the internet and the Parish Clerk, I located his grave in St Peters churchyard.'
After Mr Curtiss retired in around 1968 the last Headteacher, Mr George Rapley, was appointed.
The first stone for the new school was laid in June 1839 by Miss Hanbury of Holfield Grange. In 1847 a site was acquired for a residence for the master and mistress and in 1875 an adjoining cottage and garden on Stoneham Street was acquired probably for a caretaker.
The school passed to Essex County Council in 1903. The two buildings on the site were used for boys and girls. In March 1928 the boys school closed and in April the school reopened as the Coggeshall Church of England Mixed Schools (boys girls and infants) under a single headmaster and using the buildings of the former girls' and infants' schools. The boys school was taken back into use in 1938. In 1948 the managers renamed the school the Great Coggeshall St Peters' School and in 1956 it was again renamed Coggeshall St Peters' Church of England School.
Under these various names it was used by generations of Coggeshall children - four generations of my own family went there. It closed in December 1985 when a new St Peter's School was opened, built on part of the site of the old 'Council School' on St Peter's Road. After that the old buildings fell into disuse.
I took the black and white photos in September 1989 just before the buildings were converted for housing and the colour photos I took in 1990 when conversion was underway.
Barbara Hodges writes; 'I went to the Church school Stoneham Street from 1940 until 1948, Mr. Curtis was the headmaster and Mrs Curtis was the head mistress. They had a son who sadly died when playing in the playground. Mr & Mrs Curtis were ahead of their time, they organized a system so we could listen to interesting radio programmes in our classrooms and broadcast messages to each class. We were encouraged to speak to all the pupils over the 'tannoy' system during the morning assembly. It resulted in some of us gaining a lot of confidence.'
Angela Moore writes; 'It was my brother Trevor who sadly found Mr Curtis's son in the playground while on his milk round.' Playing with his dog, the little lad had somehow been strangled by his own scarf.
Carol Murray writes; 'the little boy... was Colin John Curtis and he died on 9 January 1951 aged 4. With the help of the internet and the Parish Clerk, I located his grave in St Peters churchyard.'
After Mr Curtiss retired in around 1968 the last Headteacher, Mr George Rapley, was appointed.
Return to: Coggeshall Photos
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Return to: Coggeshall Photos