School History


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Punishment Book          School Logbook (1920s)

Corton School  was officially opened by the Bishop of Norwich on 3rd February 1896 after the old school building became overcrowded.  Mr Matthias Burgess was the first headmaster.  In the same year Laleham Cottages were built next to the school.  One of these (now 21 The Street) was let to the school managers for the headteacher's accommodation and he used a gate from his garden to go through to the playground.

The total cost of building the school was £1,383 14s 11d

On the east wall of the school were the words ' All Wisdom Cometh from the Lord 1896'

In 1903 the Board of Managers were the Reverend Joseph Cooper, Ernest Fowler of Gunton Hall, Henry Rackham of Woodlands Farm and Robert Hood Churchwarden.  Foundation (Church) Managers - Reverend T.B. Davenport (Methodist Minister) appointed by the Parish Council and George Soanes, Russell Colman's agent, appointed by the County Council.

In 1929, 84 children attended the school.

In 1933 the managers agreed that a mains water supply (instead of a pump), water closets, and electric light should be installed

In the 1950s, dinners were supplied from a Beccles depot!

  
 

Headteachers of the School

 
Matthias Burgess Herbert Cole Mrs Walter Miss Lilian Felce Miss A. Hanson Majorie Bloomfield
Mrs Ward Mr Best Mr Russell Mrs S. Kearley    

Miss Bertha Hood has been the longest serving teacher.  She is seen in a photograph in 1903 when she was a student teacher and she retired from teaching in 1950.

Miss Cramp-Wisky Miss Hylton Mrs Nathan Mrs Olive Barker Miss Lewis  
Mrs Braybrooke Mrs Hill Mrs Stone Mrs Gaylard    

 

Punishment Book

Years ago, if children were naughty they were punished in various ways - very different to punishments today.  Here are some examples of the punishments children received:

The first entry in Corton School's Punishment Book was

15th October 1900 Willie Bowler    Telling a barefaced lie Strokes with the cane M.H. Burgess

Other entries include
23rd February 1903 Stanley Riches (aged 7½) Swearing in Playground during Rec time Cuts on the hand with the cane and across the trouser seat M.H. Burgess
12th October 1904   Barbara Buttifant (age 7) Carelessly tearing the leaf of her school reading book One stroke of the cane on the hand M.H. Burgess
8 December 1905 Frank Buttifant Sulkiness Strokes on seat MHB
14th May 1907 Stanley Lake Continual loitering on way to school About 4 strokes on buttock MHB
19th September 1916 Fred Durrant Pulling faces 2 strokes.  Also 7 or 8 across buttocks for refusing to put out hand  
 

Last entry in the Punishment Book:
1st October 1924 William Amiss Throwing stones at school bell after warning 4 strokes  

 

School Logbook

Every headteacher keeps a log book of what happens in school during the term.

Here are a few entries from a logbook in the 1920s

Mr E. W. Smith, Butcher, 116 Raglan Street, supplies farmyard manure 6/- a load
8.4.29  School reopened after Easter Holidays.  5 children admitted, 1 left.  No on roll: 85

            Infant Class                  20            Miss Hylton

            Std I, II,  III,                31            Miss Hood

            IV, V & over 11          33            Miss Felce

NB:  Only seems to be 84 - I wonder who the other one was!
6.5.29  Nurse Hayward visited and examined all children.  4 not quite clean                   69 present
11.6.29 Fire drill carried out.  School out in 20 seconds  ( Can you beat that today Corton Children?)

                                                  

 

                                                                                             

                                    

 

 

More information about the school to follow