St. Joseph's Convent School

1932 or 1933

Zillah Driver

Zillah Driver is eighth from the right in the second row from the back.

Zillah believes that Violet Bishop is holding one of the cups, possibly the larger one.

Please comment if you recognise anyone!

This page was added on 18/03/2011.

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  • Sorry Pam, I don’t have any further information.
    regards Geoff

    By Geoffrey Cordingley (17/08/2022)
  • Hello Geoffrey,
    I can’t remember there being trees etc at the back of the building but I was very young and so that is not an accurate memory. I am more surprised by the uniform, the striped ties and the teachers who are not nuns… can you fill me in?

    By Pam Wright (06/08/2022)
  • Hello Pam,
    As you say, the Convent School was in St. John’s Street, Hertford until it was moved in the 50s to Hertingfordbury. There is a note about it in the book ‘A History and Guide of The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, Hertford.’
    Was there room for the photograph to be taken behind the convent buildings?

    By Geoffrey Cordingley (05/08/2022)
  • I am confused by this picture …
    I thought that St Joseph’s Convent School, run by the Sisters of Mercy, was in St Johns Street Hertford until the 1950s. I certainly remember going to St John’s Street and moving to Hertingfordbury later. The RC church school was on the opposite side of the street and they later moved to North Road Hertford.
    I remained in Hertingfordbury until I was eleven and went to Ware Grammar School. I returned as a student teacher in the late sixties for half a term.

    By Pam Wright (31/07/2022)
  • What a find! So the Morris sisters were my 3 X great grand aunts. I’ve just found them. Along with my 3 X great grandfather on the 1921 census, indeed living at the school address of 55 ware road.
    It would seem they had a servant too!
    Thank you for taking the time to document and share these moments of history.
    Best wishes

    By Amanda Taylor (06/01/2022)
  • Thanks once again Geoff – a veritable treasure trove of information!

    By francesca woolmer (21/02/2019)
  • Hello again Francesca,
    I know of one photograph taken of the Morrises and the scholars who were mainly girls but with a few boys. A copy of the photograph was printed in the Herfordshire Mercury sometime in the ’70s and a copy can be seen at Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. A better copy is on page 90 of the book “The Archive Photographs Series HERTFORD” compiled by Mervyn Miller, ISBN 0-7524-0736-8. This book can also be viewed in the Local Studies Library. The book dates the photograph as 1905 which is too early for your dad but you can see the mistresses!

    By Geoffrey Cordingley (21/02/2019)
  • You are a star Geoff- thank you so much for the information- it means a lot as I am at the moment collecting everything on my dad to make an album to commemorate his life. Kind regards Francesca Woolmer

    By Francesca Woolmer (21/02/2019)
  • Hello Francesca,

    The Three Morris sisters lived and ran the school at 55, Ware Road. It is set back from the road behind a large hedge and is now called “The School House”.

    By Geoffrey Cordingley (21/02/2019)
  • Hello my father Donald Frederick Ellingham was born in 1926 and grew up at 97, Ware Road, Hertford. Sadly he passed just before Christmas. I remember him saying he was taught by the three Morris sisters at ‘Glengarriff’ school but I don’t know where this was in Hertford – presumably walkable from his house on Ware Road. Also for his final primary year he went to St Joseph’s convent. This would have been 1936 I guess. Are there any school photos for this year? I would love to find him!

    By Francesca Woolmer (18/02/2019)
  • I am sorry to report that, after a long and active life, Zillah passed away on 16th November 2017.

    She will be sadly missed by all those who came into contact with her, particularly the members of Hertford & District U3A.

    By Terry Askew (24/11/2017)