MINEHEAD PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Dame schools were probably in existence well before the 19th century and continued until the 1860s or later. In 1861 there were five schoolmistresses, beside those teaching at the free school, including Ann Ridler who kept a day school in Bampton Street in the 1860s and 1870s. The opening of the parochial school had no immediate impact on private day schools and there were several in the 1870s and early 1880s.[1]
There were several small private nursery and primary schools in the later 20th century, most short-lived, including the Red Shoes nursery recorded 1954—68.[2] Michael Hall, the London Waldorf school, was evacuated to 27 Blenheim Road during the Second World War with c.156 children and 7 teachers.[3]
BOYS
Baptist minister John Cocks started a school to increase his income in the 1820s.[4] It was continued by his successor Charles Elliott in 1842 but was probably given up before he emigrated in 1850.[5] William Zelwood had a schoolroom in Wellington Square, actually facing Bampton Street, furnished with forms, desks, master’s desk and two blackboards. He had six boys aged 5—10 boarding with him in 1841[6] and in 1851 Whiston Bristow kept the school with 16 boarders. It closed between 1859 and 1861.[7]
A collegiate school established by Warwick Grey by 1883 was probably replaced by a school in the Avenue kept by Thomas Williams in 1891 when there were ten boys aged 10 to 15 boarding.[8] Known as Minehead Preparatory school for the Sons of Gentlemen, it had a resident assistant master and nine boarders under 13 in 1901. Boys were taught carving, carpentering, games and ‘manly exercises’.[9] It closed after 1906.[10] The High School for boys, headmaster F. N. Butler in 1898, took dayboys and boarders[11] and appears to have been in Selbourne Place. It was kept by Edward Mackenzie Laughlin in the 1900s.[12] After it closed the classrooms were used by the Red Cap or Minehead Modern School for 60 boys, kept by William and Blodwyn Richards at Townsend House in the 1920s and 1930s. It closed before 1939, presumably when Mr Richards became head of the grammar school.[13] A Captain Cross was said to have set up a school in the 1920s[14] and Clanville Home Markers private technical school was recorded in 1937—40, presumably on Holloway.[15]
GIRLS
There were two girls’ boarding schools in 1833 with 39 pupils.[16] Two boarding schools had been established in the Parks by 1871: Emma Snow assisted by two teachers had seven girls boarding aged 8 to 21 and two older parlour boarders occupying two houses and Jane Jones with one assistant taught girls and boys and had eight boarders aged 8 to 14.[17] Both continued with girls only but the second was replaced by Leighton House in Bampton Street, kept by Sarah Hole and her daughters from 1889.[18] Leighton House returned to the Parks under that name before 1897 but from 1898 was renamed Minehead School for Girls and provided tennis, croquet, violin and piano lessons. It closed between 1914 and 1919.[19] The other boarding school, known as the Parks High School and School of Music, was kept by Elise George in the 1890s but had closed by 1901.[20] St Aldwyn’s School for the daughters of Gentlemen, especially Indian and colonial, was kept on the Esplanade in 1919 and St Michael’s Road by 1923 when there were private ladies’ schools in Blenheim and Irnham Roads. The Blenheim Road and St Aldwyn’s schools remained open until 1939 or later.[21]
A collegiate school established by Warwick Grey by 1883 was probably replaced by a school in the Avenue kept by Thomas Williams in 1891 when there were ten boys aged 10 to 15 boarding.[22] Known as Minehead Preparatory school for the Sons of Gentlemen, it had a resident assistant master and nine boarders under 13 in 1901. Boys were taught carving, carpentering, games and ‘manly exercises’.[23] It closed after 1906.[24] The High School for boys, headmaster F. N. Butler in 1898, took dayboys and boarders and[25] appears to have been in Selbourne Place and was kept by Edward Mackenzie Laughlin in the 1900s.[26] After it closed the classrooms were used by the Red Cap or Minehead Modern School for 60 boys, kept by William and Blodwyn Richards at Townsend House in the 1920s and 1930s. It closed before 1939, presumably when Mr Richards became head of the grammar school.[27] A Captain Cross was said to have set up a school in the 1920s[28] and Clanville Home Markers private technical school was recorded in 1937—40 presumably on Holloway.[29]
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Mary Siraut Page 2 Somerset Reference
[1] TNA, RG 9/1601; RG 10/2348; RG 11/2353; Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1861, 1866, 1875).
[2] SHC, A/CNH 3/3—5,
[3] SHC, A/CNH 3/3—5; ibid. D/U/m 2/2/9—10.
[4] D. Jackman, Baptists in the West Country (Dorchester, c.1953), 34.
[5] Minehead Baptist Church, Ter Jubilee Souvenir (1967) [unpaginated]; Pigot & Co, Dir. Som. (1842).
[6] SHC, DD/L 1/54/43/1; 2/35/2; ibid. tithe award; TNA, HO 107/936.
[7] TNA, HO 107/1920; ibid. RG 9/1601.
[8] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1883); TNA, RG 12/1863.
[9] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; TNA, RG 13/2260.
[10] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1906).
[11] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; Slater’s Dir. Som. (1852—3); Harrison, Harrad & Co. Dir. Som. (1859).
[12] SHC, DD/IR 14/4.
[13] S. Lloyd, Townsend House (Minehead, 2004), 9—10; Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1931).
[14] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1906); SHC, D/CC/ta 7/44.
[15] TNA, ED 74/7.
[16] Educ. Enq. Abstract (1835), p. 815.
[17] TNA, RG 10/2348
[18] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1875—89); TNA, RG 11/2353, RG 12/1863.
[19] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; A Guide to Minehead (c.1906); Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1897—1919); TNA, RG 13/2260.
[20] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1897—23); TNA, RG 13/2260.
[21] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1919—39).
[22] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1883); TNA, RG 12/1863.
[23] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; TNA, RG 13/2260.
[24] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1906).
[25] SHC, D/U/m 38/1/1; Slater’s Dir. Som. (1852—3); Harrison, Harrad & Co. Dir. Som. (1859).
[26] SHC, DD/IR 14/4.
[27] S. Lloyd, Townsend House (Minehead, 2004), 9—10; Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1931).
[28] Kelly’s Dir. Som. (1906); SHC, D/CC/ta 7/44.
[29] TNA, ED 74/7.