This postcard, dated 1908, is entitled ‘The Almshouses Shepperton’. Far from being Almshouses though, this was at the time the Shepperton National School. An illustration of how important it is not to take things at face value when researching history! Many readers will recognise that the building (on the right) is now the ‘School of Spice’ restaurant, at the lower end of Shepperton High Street.
The National Society for Promoting Religious Education was set up in 1811 to ensure children were educated in the teachings of the Church of England. It was in 1833 that the long serving Rector of Shepperton, the Rev. William Russell (after whom Russell Road is named) got together with a group of like-minded local people to found a National School in what was then called Highfield Road.
The attractive building they erected had two classrooms, with an adjacent schoolmaster’s house (with the twin gables, nearer the photographer here), and a playground (now the beer garden of the Three Horseshoes). The dedication plaque can still be seen on the front of the building. It took 87 pupils, aged between 6 and 12 years, the boys being taught by school master William Trott, with Alice Danby teaching the girls. This would have been all the schooling the children got, leaving to start work after this age.
By 1860 the numbers had expanded so much that a new building was built alongside, separated by a narrow alleyway. This became the girls’ school, while the boys stayed in the original building. In 1914 compulsory education, originally introduced in 1870, was extended to 14 years of age, and by 1920 scholarships were available to go on to Grammar School (local children would have gone on to the one at Ashford). This steady increase in numbers meant that by the late 1920s the two buildings were inadequate, and a new building was opened at a site off School Lane in 1930. This has of course now become St. Nicholas C. of E. Primary School.
The Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society will be showing many old photos of Shepperton at the Village Fair on June 11th. Do come and visit our stand in the large craft marquee.