New Schoolroom

The school in about 1938 - demolished in 1962

At Newton Bromswold on Thursday, 26^th September 1867, there was an "unusual festivity in consequence of the opening of a new school-room. The school, which is built in the First Pointed style, has red bricks, with bands of yellow bricks, on a site given by the Warden and fellows of All Souls' College, Oxford, from the designs of W. E. MacCarthy, of 20 Cockspur Street, Pall Mall. The builder was J. Boddington of Wellingborough. All the parishioners gave money and help most kindly. Every householder among the cottages contributed, and the farmers, in addition to their subscriptions, carted all the materials free of charge. The several landlords also contributed generously, as well as many kind friends, both in the neighbourhood and distant places. The Bishop of Peterbrough took a kind interest in the work and subscribed to it handsomely. A building grant was received from the Northamptonshire Educational Society, and a grant for fittings from the National Society.

Early in the morning, the church bells rang a merry peal in honour of the occasion, and the farmers of the village kindly gave a half holiday to their men and boys in order that the festivity might be general. The Church was prettily decorated with flowers, ferns and moss; and afternoon prayers were read at 2.30 by the Rector, a hymn of his own composition being sung in place of an anthem, and the glorias and canticles chanted, accompanied by the harmonium. Immediately after the service, the school-room was unlocked and the children admitted, and with them, the numerous visitors, all of whom expressed great admiration of the style of the building.

Long tables were spread in an adjoining field for tea. The school children sat down to theirs first, and after them, a large party of between two and three hundred, including several of the clergy and gentry of the neighbourhood, the architect of the school, the Rector and his family, the farmers and their families (the ladies presiding at the various tables), and all the villagers. After tea there were various games and amusements - cricket, hurdle jumping, races, jumping in sacks, dancing, &c. The Rushden band was in attendance, its services paid for by a subscription raised in the village. The dusk of the autumn evening closed in only too soon, and was the signal for the National Anthem to be played by the band, and three cheers to be given for the Queen, followed by cheers for the architect and the Rector, his wife and family".

Wellingborough News, 23rd August 1879, transcribed by Kay Collins NEWTON BROMSWOLD—THE small school of this parish was visited on Monday, the 11th inst., by W. E. Currey, Esq., one of Her Majesty's Inspectors. The children were presented for examination—one in the third standard, three in the second, and six in the first— and there were ten passes in reading, ten in writing, and eight in arithmetic. The Inspector's report is as follows:—"The school is very carefully conducted".

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