Theydon Mount School

Log Books from 1894 to 1932 for the former school have survived and are now found in the Essex Record Office at Chelmsford and they provide a social picture for the time. Below I have highlighted some of the entries.

Names of pupils in 1884.

Arthur Stubbings
William West
Frederick Starling
Henry Turner
George Tarling
Sydney Summers
George Stubbings
Charles Stubbings
Walter Stubbings
Stephen Starling
George Perry
Henry Gould
Edwin Freshwater
Archibald Prior
Oscar Tarling
William Tucker
Samuel Starling
Charles Latchford
William Toomie
Thomas Stubbings
Walter Freshwater
Horace Doe
James Starling

Lily Green
Emily Pain
Margaret Freshwater
Dora Freshwater
Hetty Stubbings
Minnie Freshwater

Rose Freshwater
Frances Toomie
Celia Threader
Rachel Summers
Florence Toomie
Eva Toomie
Ellen Gould
Daisy Threader
Maud Starling

Christina Spark – teacher

Average weekly attendance in 1895 was 27

Oct 1st 1895
The new school year commences today....... Two children are absent.....Stephen Starding who has not been back to school since the Harvest Holidays. I have sent several messages to his guardian and have since sent Miss Bonner (Infants Teacher) to his home to request that he should be sent back, but his guardians say that he cannot come for want of clothing and shoes.

Nov 29th 1895
Several children are absent on account of the damp weather.

There are many entries in the log book where attendance was low due to the weather. This may indicate that many of the children did not have sufficient clothes or shoes to deal with the cold and the wet.

In 1896 The Inspector of Schools reported, “The children attending this little school are orderly and attentive, but not very bright.....”

Jan 23rd 1899
School closed on account of nearly all the children being ill with measles. The school was re-opened on the 15th Feb but attendance poor as several children prevented as measles are still in their homes.

Nov 6th 1899
Marion Payne commenced duties as Mistress of the school today.

2nd Jan 1900
Flossie Augusta Burrage took charge for the first time.

2nd Feb 1900
Attendance has not been good as six of the elder boys have been away brushing.

Week ending 25th Jan 1901
Attendance this week has been very poor, owing to the absence of nearly all the boys, on account of the shooting. They were engaged in brushing’ in the wood

Nov 23rd 1902
Henrietta L. Cawley commenced duties as Mistress.

There are several poignant entries during the period 1914 -1918 when news of former pupils of the school are reported in the log book as ‘killed in action.’