AOSA CENTENARY HISTORY 1841 - 1941
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Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Appendix
While Holmes was urging on his workmen in building, Henry Pease and Philip Heselton were laying out the small field which sloped to the Leven. They roughly bisected it by one broad path and bounded it by another. From this terrace eight shallow stone steps led down to the river. On the top steps were placed two stone pedestals, one for a sun dial, the other for a rain gauge, and that the committee might not think its wealth was being dissipated by extravagance, cut deeply into the base of each were the words ‘Presented by Henry Pease.’
No bridge then spanned the river where plainly a bridge ought to be. So Heselton pointed this out to his cousin Thomas Richardson, suggesting that a bridge would cost about ten pounds. Next day Thomas Richardson came up to Heselton, handed him a cheque for ten pounds, and said, “Take that, Cousin Philip, and make your bridge.” So the teachers’ bridge stands where Heselton planned it.
One half of the ‘little paddock’ divided by the North-South terrace was made into a girls’ playground, the other was for the boys. A rustic railing surrounded each playground and plots of ground were kept on each for small gardens. The South view of the School in 1842 shows terraces and beckside bare of trees. But skilled planting soon changed this, and the terraces and playgrounds began to look as, to generations of school children, they have always looked.
Members of the Committee soon realised that
the new schoolroom, dining room and bedroom accommodation that they
had provided did not satisfy all the needs of the growing household.
They wanted to improve and extend the domestic offices and to ‘build
over them a boys’ schoolroom and dormitory.’ Thomas Richardson
had wider plans. ‘The experience of the gone-by year’ had
proved to him in 1842 that ‘a separation must take place between
the Boys & Girls except at meals.’ He proposed to remove
the farm buildings, ‘a hay-shed, cow-house and chaise-house ‘,
from the other side of the boys’ new playground, and in their
place to make boys’ schoolrooms with ‘lodging rooms over
them’ and to take as ‘much of the land of the late Coverdale’s
garden as will erect the needful conveniences for the boys.’ He
suggested, too, that they should make ‘a shed to collect and
play in in wet or cold weather.’ He would carry out this ‘at
my own expense at a sum not exceeding £600 for which or less
I think it may be done and to much advantage of the school.’
The Committee was divided between these projects but finally decided that it was ‘the united judgment of this committee to enlarge the present kitchen and washhouse so as to extend them to the girls’ playground wall and to build over them a boys’ schoolroom and dormitory.’ Plans and estimates were approved for a final spending of £800, six hundred for the building, one hundred for water and another hundred for extras, with’ arrangements to be made for a frugal and judicious procedure with the work.’
But the Committee did not carry out either plan until 1846 when they combined both. Thomas Richardson supplied the impetus with an offer of £1,000 for his favourite boys’ schoolroom and play shed. The committee summoned John Middleton of Darlington, architect, to whom they submitted drafts of plans, telling him that ‘the farm accommodation adjoining the boys’ playground might be eligibly removed across the way and a school, playroom and a joiner’s shop erected upon the scite.’ John Middleton produced his detailed plans early in 1846 and work began at once. The boys’ side was at last taking the shape it kept for many years, of schoolroom, washroom and shed.
The minute of 30th June 1846 stated that ‘this committee has today sanctioned in general terms the new buildings for all the necessary purposes connected with kitchen, laundry and new dormitory for the boys to be completed under the superintendence of John Middleton, Architect.’ The girls’ side, too, was taking the shape it kept for many years, for as soon as the boys were able to use their new bedroom, the girls took possession of the old one and the girls’ side was settled.
The clock which overtops this wing was not put there till 1861. The clang of a Chinese gong or after the first ten years the ringing of a big bell urged the scholars to that punctuality whose breach was reprehended. And as the punctuality of the summoning bell depended on the ringer’s watch of the kitchen clock the unpunctual had often an effective excuse. Ebenezer Simmons of London supplied the clock and personally supervised its fixing. John Pease was understood to be the anonymous donor and the report of 1861 commended the generous gift of the ‘Turret Clock striking the hours and half hours which proves a great advantage not only to the school family but to the village of Great Ayton.’
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