Schools

This basic plan of the area within Bamburgh Castle that served as the Girls’ School allows us to begin to imagine a little of what form the school took. We know that both boys and girls were educated in the Castle and that by September 1762 three rooms had been fitted for the use of the school. 

By about 1780 the charity had made provisions for up to 60 boys and 60 girls to be taught and that the number of scholars in attendance at any given time was generally around 100. A scale is noted on the plan – this can be used to work out the proportions of the schoolroom.  

This document forms part of the general series of petitions or applications to the Lord Crewe Charity held by Northumberland Archives. The petition was submitted by Mary Beavens, a widow of Milburngate, Durham City. We learn that Mary Beavens is a widow and mother of three children. Her late husband was Joseph Beavens, a forgeman, of Beamish, County Durham, who died on 1 February 1847. Mary Beavens writes to request that a place be found at Bamburgh Castle School for her daughter, Elizabeth, aged nine. All we learn about the family’s circumstances is that Mary does not have the means to support them. The petition is signed by a number of supporters including John Cundill, incumbent (vicar) of St. Margaret’s parish. It is noted at the top of the document that Mary Beavens lived in the Chapelry of St. Margaret’s, Durham. 

This document is one of many hundreds of petitions received by the Trustees of The Lord Crewe Charity requesting support. Over a hundred of these petitions are requests for educational support, generally either for financial support for a particular school or to fund a school place for a named child. This application made by Jane Armstrong for a place for her 10 year old daughter, Mary, at Bamburgh Castle School. We learn from the petition that Jane is a widow, her husband, a pitman at Belmont Colliery, having died on 11 December 1853 after a short illness, leaving his wife with three children to care for. We also learn that Jane Armstrong suffers from ‘lameness in one hand’ and is therefore ‘incapable of active employment’. As a consequence Jane and her family are in receipt of parish relief. The petition is signed by Jane Armstrong and countersigned by nine supporters who certify that the statement of the family’s circumstances is correct. It is interesting to consider who the supporters are – they include two Aldermen of the City of Durham, the curate of St. Giles Church, Durham City and a churchwarden of the same church. The origins of the charity and the terms of its creation meant that it was important for petitioners to demonstrate support from local clergy. 

The papers of the Lord Crewe Charity held by Northumberland Archives contain a collection of almost fifty applications for admission to Bamburgh Castle Girls School covering the period 1858-1884. Earlier applications for admission can be found amongst the petition series of the papers. This application was made on behalf of Eliza Louisa Milburn of 56 Elswick East Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne. The application reveals that her father is Joseph Milburn, an ironmonger, and that her mother is deceased. We also learn that Joseph is almost blind and in ill-health. Eliza was aged 12 at the time of application – her birthdate is noted as 3 May 1850. She was born in Plummer Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, in the parish of Newcastle St. John. The application is signed by a local surgeon and has a number of supporters including John Clayton, Town Clerk of Newcastle, Joseph Armstrong, former mayor of the town, Rev. Moody, the Vicar of Newcastle, Edward Prest, Archdeacon of Durham as well as clergy and lay persons of St. Anne’s church – possibly the chapelry of Newcastle, St Ann. The origins of the charity and the terms of its creation meant that it was important for petitioners to demonstrate support from local clergy. 

The application was accompanied by a letter signed by Joseph Milburn dated 24 January 1863. In it, Joseph Milburn states that he has had a personal interview with Rev. Clark of Belford who has advised that Joseph to send the application to Samuel Rowlandson, one of the Trustees. Joseph Milburn also writes that Rev. Clark has known the Milburn family for between 40 and 50 years. 

The papers of the Lord Crewe Charity held by Northumberland Archives include a register of girls recommended for admission to Bamburgh Castle School, 1879-1892.This sample page from 1882 provides details of five girls recommended for admission. Details recorded are date of application, name and age of girl, details of family circumstances, names of persons recommending the application, name of person who will provide clothing and outcome of application. In four of five cases cited the family have lost one parent. The case of Margaret Wilson aged nine and a half is typical. Margaret’s mother is the widow of a commercial traveller who died in July 1882. Margaret is one of six children, four of whom are described as being ‘very dependant’ upon their mother. Mrs. Wilson has a life policy of £100 but no other [financial] support. She relies upon ‘her needle’ (sewing) for other income.  

From 1862 schools were required to keep a logbook. Headteachers were expected to make daily entries recording the business of the school. From 1871 weekly entries could be made. This sample page is from a volume covering the period 1881-1893. Entries are recorded for most schooldays. There are several references to named pupils – for example, two members of the Handyside family were admitted to school on 20 November 1888. We learn that regular church attendance was important and that the vicar, Rev. Long, was a regular visitor to the school. On 7 December 1888 school was dismissed early at 3.30pm – it is possible to speculate that this may have been because of poor weather. We see reference to homework being allocated on 9 December 1888. The sample page gives a clear indication of the wealth of information that school logbooks can provide.