The Schools : Gone But Not Forgotten

Memories of the last Dame School in Paddock Wood:

An early form of private elementary school, Maidstone Road.

Pamela Jones (1928 – 2009) was the daughter of John Hinton Jones, who for many years was the butcher in Five Oak Green. The family lived at Little Reeds Farm in Alders Road, Capel. Pam later moved to a house on Colt's Hill, and then to Hadlow. These are her memories of early education in Paddock Wood.

I started my education at Miss Wakeford's school in Paddock Wood after Easter 1933. I was 5 years old. The school was in a small double fronted house, parlour to the right of the front door, and dining room to the left.

There were about 12 to 16 boys and girls aged from 5 to 14 years. We were the children of the vicar, grocer, butcher, wheelwright, corn merchant, farmer, farm manager and the like, and our parents paid about £1 10 shillings a term.

Miss Wakeford sat on a chair at the head of a long low wooden table which had a bench on either side. Opposite her was an old fashioned black kitchener stove. She was quite tall and thin and always wore straight dark grey dresses with a brown or grey patterned long apron. She was our only teacher and taught all subjects.

Our books were kept on shelves to the right of the kitchener. In this room we were all taught, one or two doing sums, another learning a poem or a passage from the Bible, someone perhaps studying Geography, History, Nature Study, writing a story or answering questions, the less able practicing cursive writing. It was here I began my love of History.

Many of the children lived in the village and went home for lunch.

Afternoons were spent singing in the dining room (Miss Wakeford could only play the piano with one hand) or else we were reading, drawing or sewing in the kitchen. All girls had to learn to hem. We started on a piece of cotton material on which the hems were already tacked. These pieces were eventually to be used as dusters. When our hemming was good enough we progressed to hemming a pink or blue hankie which had lace edging added by a 'big girl'. The boys made raffia mats of various sizes and shapes. All these and the hankies were sold at the annual sale of work at the Parochial Hall. Here on the stage we recited the poems we had learnt, and sang.

After three years with Miss Wakeford I was sent to the County School for Girls in Tonbridge, where I remained for over ten years. I have often wondered if I had actually attended the last Dame School.”

Adapted from the memories of Pamela Jones.

With thanks to Capel History.

The picture from the archives is likely to be Miss Wakeford and children but we are not 100% sure.

This might be Miss Wakeford and her pupils ©

Paddock Wood School ChurchRoad

On the route of the annual Paddock Wood Carnival. Remembering the original Paddock Wood School in Church Road

The following account was hand written in 1993 (anon):

“The first school was built in Kent Ragstone between 1859 & 1861. The site was given by the two Morrison brothers who also gave a portion of land for a burial ground. In 1861 the land was vested in the official trustee of charitable funds the date of the order being May 24th 1861. The School was carried on under the rules of the National Society from whom in 1872 the managers received a grant for enlargement.

In 1880 a School Board was formed and the buildings which included a Masters residence were leased to the Board for 21 years. The progress was made on the promise that the Boards occupant commenced at 9.45am thus leaving the religious institution in the hands of the Vicar. The Board enlarged the schools at a cost of £1491 subsequent to them entering the lease.

School House Church Road showing the original St Andrews Church on the right ©

In 1901 the Lease expired and until 1905 no new lease was obtained. In 1905 the Head of Education decided that the Vicar and Wardens for theme being were the trustees of the School. In 1906 the trustees effected transfer of 2 perches of frontage for 33 perches of land adjoining the playground to build boys school but the building was not carried out then.

In 1906 a scheme for a new lease was obtained from the Education auth but it was not acted on until 1908 owing to difficulties between trustees of the Local Education authority. The Lease was eventually signed on Nov 14th 1908.

The new boys school (Old Kent Road) was occupied at the end of 1909 and the old schools used for girls and infants.

School life went on as usual until about 1st March 1929 when a Diptheria epidemic broke out. Mr A J Harland (known by some as Nobby Harlend) who had been appointed as lead master of the boys school and also took a big interest in social life in the village called a meeting of parents to condemn the St Andrews School.

The children were transferred to the Parochial Hall until 1948 (?) when the boys school was extended to take girls and boys. Then in 1954 the first part of Mascalls School was built and has been extended to the present day. Also of course in 1993 the Primary School (former boys school) has been renewed.” Author unknown 1993

School girls in Church Road Paddock Wood ©

The bend in Church Road going East . Properties in Waverely Place (off theRidings) now front the left of this picture ©

The Old Paddock Wood School in Church Road ©

Paddock Wood Annual Carnival Procession usually passes along Church Road to St Andrews field in July
These pictures are of the first school in Paddock Wood and those who follow the Carnival pass the same spot as they go round the curved part of the road. Built of beautiful Kent Ragstone the buildings stood next to the site of the original St Andrews Church. Houses have replaced this building

It is unclear whether these children from so long ago were watching a procession or simply posing for a photograph.

In later years all this was demolished for housing. The situation was controversial because the buildings were, or had been, listed.
Ragstone from the original church can be seen in the walls of the ‘new’ St Andrews Church on Maidstone Road otherwise there is none left in Paddock Wood.

The last source for Kentish Ragstone is Hermitage Quarry Maidstone.
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