THE STORY OF COWBRIDGE SCHOOL, HERTFORD: 1863-1915

 

 

In late 2010 I retired from teaching at Morgans Primary School, a job which I had enjoyed for the previous 17 years. Among other activities I became a volunteer at the Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies and decided to research some of Hertford’s primary or elementary schools.

It’s generally forgotten now that the development of elementary education in England was a highly controversial issue. In the early 19th century its provision lay in the hands of religious societies, and there was often bitter rivalry between the Established Church and the members of Dissenting or Nonconformist Churches. In time the Government was obliged to step in and establish a system by which their efforts could be supported from public funds, but this in turn sparked off fierce controversy, whereby the members of one denomination objected to subscribing, via the rates, to the education system provided by their rivals. The Government also had to make provision for the establishment of School Boards in areas where the number of elementary school places provided by the church authorities was insufficient to meet the needs of the locality.

In the case of Hertford, the town managed to keep pace with national developments in elementary school provision, and the church authorities were able to furnish sufficient places to meet its needs. There was never any requirement, therefore, to set up a School Board to rectify a deficiency in provision. By 1896 there were some 10 elementary schools located within the Borough and these provided a total capacity of about 1800 places. Just over 80% of these places were contained in schools controlled by the town’s parish churches. Some 60 places were provided at the St John’s (Roman Catholic) School, next to the Roman Catholic Church, while another 200 places were available for the children of Nonconformist families in a school located in Dimsdale Street and known as Cowbridge School. Such schools were called “British Schools” to distinguish them from the “National Schools” run by the Church of England.

I was aware that there was a disused school in Dimsdale Street and that it had once been a British School, so I decided to find out more about it. The articles referenced below sets out the results of my research.

Cowbridge School gives a summary of the history of the school.

The Opening of the School  talks about the funding, the architect, the builder and the laying of the foundation stone.

Cowbridge School under Walter Turpin covers the 26 years when Walter Turpin was Master of the school.

Walter Turpin, Cowbridge Headmaster for 26 years gives a pen portrait of the man.