The Old School, School Lane
The original school in Longstanton was built on School Lane and this building and the School House still exist today, although the school has had a second floor added and the School House has been extended. Schooling may have taken place in the village prior to a purpose built school being in place, probably in both All Saints’ church and St. Michael’s church.
Below are some photographs we have been given of the school on School Lane. Dates are indicated if known.
Photographs from the Abbs Family Collection. These photographs are the oldest ones we have of Longstanton School. It is possible that one of them could have been taken on July 14th 1893 when, according to the logbook transcribed by Bob Jopling, the first reference is made to a school photograph. We do know that when the photograph of 1893 was taken Ada Abbs was at the school.
Bob Jopling was a teacher at Hatton Park School and his wife was a teacher at Longstanton School on School Lane. I have filmed an interview with them both and the film provides a fascinating insight into our village school. Currently Bob is in the process of transcribing selections from the logbooks of Longstanton School. So far LDHS has a copy of his selections from 1875 -1900. We look forward to further installments as they are completed.
Here are just a few extracts to wet the appetite! Hopefully in due course many more log book entries can be put on line.
1875
Sept 24th
The school opened this week after the Midsummer holidays. The attendance was small as the harvest work was not completed. The work went on according to timetable.
Oct 1st
The attendance was much better this week, but some children still absent picking potatoes. The children in Standard 2 have fallen very much behind in the holidays.
Oct 8th
Walter Taylor was expelled from school for retaliating when punished. Walter Carrington was removed by death. On Wednesday Mr. Morris from Oakington visited the school. Work as usual.
Oct 15th
Walter Taylor was readmitted at the request of his mother, on condition of better behaviour. Mr S. Linton visited the school on Tuesday. Attendance has been much larger this week as harvest work is about completed.
LDHS is most grateful to Bob Jopling for providing us with a copy of his work. Even the limited extract above gives us information on the village and illustrates the dependence of villagers on agriculture. The patronage of “important” village families and people can be seen. The log book lists regular visits by the Linton’s; Townsend’s etc.
Photograph of Longstanton School c 1925 courtesy of Mary Reader Collection.
Mary Reader is in the middle row the third (complete) child from the right. Snowy Farr is in the middle row second from the left. Unfortunately Snowy’s face has been damaged on the original photo. Infortunately creating these thumbnails is cutting parts of some of the photographs. This is a technical hitch that hopefully can be addressed in time.
Photograph of Longstanton School 1932 courtesy of Syliva Skinner. Unfortunately this photographs has also been cropped. Hopefully this can be resolved! We do have the names of all these children which will be added to the website in due course.
Year 5 – still at the old school 1958. This marked a transition period after Hatton Park School was built when some of the younger children remained at the school on School Lane. Photograph courtesy of Jim and Eilene Fletcher.