The Chelmsford Chronicle 14th May 1897
STANFORD RIVERS
A PUBLIC MEETING was held in the National Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening, to consider how to commemorate the Jubilee. Mr Christy presided. There was a lively discussion on the various suggestions brought forward some of which were as follows: - A cottage hospital; a new bell for the Church; a drinking fountain; a reading and recreation room; a library; and a mission hall at Toot Hill. It was evident from the trend of the meeting, that any one of these objects alone would not meet with the approval of the parish. Mr Muggleston proposed that a “feed” be given to all the poor and children in the place, which was largely supported. Eventually a committee was formed consisting of Messrs. Palmer, C. Millbank, R.B. Muggleston, J. F. Muggleston, H. Newmarch, Jas. Crouch, Comyns Owers, and N. Wilson, to make some definite arrangements.
The Chelmsford Chronicle 25th June 1897
The festivities in this parish took the form of a tea to all children under 15 years old; a tea to the parents in charge of children: and ?lbs of beef to 75 persons above 60 years old. About 300 children and parents were comfortably seated in the schoolroom, and were served with a sumptuous tea. The Misses Christy, Freeman, Millbank, Sadler, Pennington, &c., attended to the wants of the company. Sports took place in a meadow, and a medal was presented to each child by Lady Cunliffe Smith. Refreshments were again served, and “God save the Queen” was heartily sung. Sufficient money has been collected to provide a fountain near the schoolroom as a permanent memorial. The arrangements were carried out by Sir.C.C. Smith, Bart., Messrs. D. Christy, P. McConnell, J.S. Freeman, W. Millbank, and N. Wilson, with Mr. R. Waltham hon. secretary and treasurer.
The Chelmsford Chronicle 18th March 1898
Bright eyed, ruddy faced, and genial, Mr Mugleston, of Littlebury Hall, Stanford Rivers, has given us a call to tell us of the woes of that parish. The tornado of the Queen's Jubilee, it seems, is still blowing over it. When the Jubilee was in prospect a public meeting was held to consider what should be done. Plans were proposed in goodly variety. One wanted a hospital, another, a parish nurse, a third, a reading room; a fourth a bell to call the school children; a fifth, a fountain in the school yard, and so on.
When all these bewildering subjects has been threshed out, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Mugleston, that the school bell should be provided, and that a tea should be given to the adults and children of the parish. Everything then promised to flourish like a field of goodly wheat; but some enemy went about and sowed tares, with the result that a private meeting was held to undo the work of the public meeting, and the bell was replaced by the fountain, and the adults were knocked clean out of the feast, though certain elderly widows were put down for a distribution of meat.
The news we gathered from Mr Mugleston, fell upon Stanford Rivers like a shower of sleet. Discontent reigned supreme, and on Jubilee Day, when the rest of the world was merry with music and dancing, three black flags were exhibited - not out of any sort of disloyalty to our beloved Queen, but in disapproval of the exiguous nature of the local rejoicings. Later on, says Mr Mugleston, the friends of the fountain found they couldn't get money enough to carry out their scheme, but they have carried it out partly, he adds, by availing themselves of a sum of £16 out of the school funds, and that the fountain, if fountain there is to be, should be paid for by those who want it, especially as, in his view, the supply of water to the school was already sufficient and satisfactory. On account of the alleged misuse of the school funds, Mr Muglestone has declined any longer to pay his share of the voluntary rate in aid of the schools, and now, he says, people are traducing him by saying that he won't pay because he wants to see a School Board. We can only hope that order will soon prevail at Stanford Rivers, as at Warsaw. Certainly, we think we could soon make peace with a bluff and honest looking Englishman like Mr Mugglestone.
The Woes of Stanford Rivers:
Old Nat Wilson's Version
25th March 1898
Sir, I was surprised when I read in "Current Topics" of your last week's Chronicle that Mr Muglestone called to tell you the woes of Stanford Rivers parish. If the tornado of the Queen's Jubilees is still blowing over it, it must be himself that is puffing it about, for I don’t hear anyone else, and he might as well blow at a south-west wind for effect it takes. He is correct in saying that there were plans proposed in good variety, but it was the feeling of the parish that there should be something permanent and beneficial to everybody, and your humble servant Old Nat Wilson, proposed a public drinking fountain to be erected at the school, for the use of the public and the thirsty little souls attending school, in number about 200. Mr Muggleston says the supply of water is quite sufficient and satisfactory at the school, which is quite untrue. Now I went to the same school over 40 years ago, and had to drink water out of a ditch, and the children going to school now have had to do the same. As far as I can understand there is no pure drinking water on the school premises. If Mr Muglestone calls that a satisfactory supply of water I would like to know where the unsatisfactory supply would come in. On viewing the place where the children get their water a gentleman told Mr Muggleston that it was a disgrace to the parish, and his children should not go to a school to drink such water. When the fountain is finished and in working order I hope Mr Muggleston will not dim his bright eyes with tears, for he will be as welcome to have a drink out of it as if he had paid towards it. I was one of the committee to seect and carry out what we thought best to satisfy the people and to celebrate her Majesty’s sixty years’ reign. I attended three committee meetings, and there was nothing done. At the end of the third meeting, Mr Muggleston proposed that I (N. Wilson) should form my own committee and carry out my own plans, and erect a fountain or monument of York stone if I liked. I thanked Mr Muggleston, and the committee broke up. I lost no time. I went next day and got a kind friend to assist me, and we formed a new committee and started upon business. It was proposed that a substantial tea should be provided for the whole of the women and children in the parish, that a medal be given to every child under fifteen years of age, that a long list of prizes be got out for sports for the school children, and that beef be given to every cottager over sixty years of age (not elderly widows only, as Mr Muggleston would make you think). A public drinking fountain was also to be erected at the school. We had to cut our coat according to our cloth. So you see by the above list we helped those who could not help themselves. For my own part I can’t see the use of taking fourpenny worth of bread and butter and cake away from a child and giving it to an able-bodied man for a pot of four-penny. When Mr Muggleston told you everything promised to flourish it puzzles me what he meant. I suppose the enemy that went about and sowed the tares was myself (Nat Wilson); but instead of sowing tares it looks to me more like sowing milk and honey for the dear little children that go to school. For it is my opinion that to them a good supply of pure water to drink on the school grounds will please them quitter as much as, and b more beneficial, than Mr Muggleston’s bell ting-tangling, in there dear little ears.
OLD NAT WILSON.
The Woes of Stanford Rivers
Old Nat Wilson’s Version Corrected.
1st April 1898
Sir, Allow me a few lines to correct “Old Nat Wilson’s Version.” I feel sure “Old Nat,” has lent himself to the seedsman. Anyway, they have not confined themselves to what is correct by a long way. They say we had three meetings and nothing was done. That is inaccurate. A ‘high tea and sports for all’ were put to the meeting and carried by 28 votes, against six for the fountain; a committee was formed, and a subscription-list prepared. Then came the sower of the tares, arranged a private meeting in a private house, and a fountain was decided upon. Of course, if they wish for a fountain they should pay for it, and not take it from the Government grant. This “old Nat” did not mention. The main point is that we have a voluntary school. The Government grant is £150 and 15s. for each child. The deficiency is made up by the rate. This does not affect “Poor Old Nat,” as he is a non-ratepayer in the parish. His house is assessed at about £4 per annum, which his landlord pays. There are several in the parish who object to the money they pay to the school being used for another purpose. Will the Education Department approve the money being taken from the school funds for the fountain? Will it be passed by the auditor?
R.B. Muggleston
Littlebury Hall, near Ongar, March 29th.
The Woes of Stanford Rivers.
Mr Muggleston and Old Nat Wilson
8th April 1898
Sir, Mr Muggleston says he feels sure that I have lent myself to the seedsman. Let me tell him that I truthfully exonerate any person from having anything to do with the letter I sent to the press. I moreover tell him that I don’t do other people’s dirty work, nor do I get other people to do mine. I likewise say that I have confined myself to what is correct. Now Mr Muggleston says a high tea was put to the meeting. That I never heard put to any meeting, and I attended every one that was held. Mr Muggleston proposed a feed for all, but perhaps he has been among the aristocrats since last May, and so he has greatly refined the vulgar word feed into high tea. I adhere to what I said. I attended three committee meetings and there was nothing done, for after Mr Muggleston’s proposal fell through and the committee broke up, a meeting was called for those that were in favour of a fountain, and he had the impertinence to attend on purpose to upset the meeting. A gentleman said to him, “Mr Muggleton, I suppose you come tonight to upset this meeting?” He said, “I did.” The ladies present were so disgusted with the hubbub that we adjourned to a private house to carry on our business. That answers, I think, the private meeting which Mr Muggleston does not seem able to forget. Then he goes on to say, “If they want a fountain let them pay for it,, not take the school funds to pay for it.” Why does he keep harping on that? He would try and make people think that he was nearly the only supporter of our beautiful commodious school. Mr Muggleston says it is a voluntary school kept up by a rate. Now does he pay up his full or proper share of the rate? I say no, not above half. I am surprised at a man in his position making all this blubber and fuss because he pays somewhere about thirty shillings a year to the school funds. He terms me a non-ratepayer. I am a ratepayer and so is every householder, although not direct, but through our landlords. Mr Muggleston says there are several in the parish who object to the money they pay to the school being use for another purpose. Now the money in question is used to supply the school officers with pure water as well as the dear little ones attending school, as there is no pure water on the school premises. I think that answers Mr Muggleston’s main point.
OLD NAT WILSON
Stanford Rivers
April 4th.
[Editor’s note: There appears to be no further correspondence regarding this issue in the Chronicle.]
The Adversaries:
Robert Mugglestone. In the 1901 Census, he is shown as living at Littlebury Hall, Stanford Rivers. He is 70 years of age, and his occupation is shown as ‘Farmer and Flour Miller. He is married to Elizabeth. They have three adult children living with them. He employs one domestic servant
Nathan Wilson. In the 1901 Census Nathan Wilson, was aged 52 years. His address in Stanford Rivers is given as the ‘Gravel Pit.’ His occupation is given as a ‘gardener domestic.’ He is married to Emily, and they have three children, aged 20, 10 and 6 years, which perhaps gives an indication of his interest in the school, as his two youngest children would attend Stanford Rivers school.
However this is not quite the end of the saga!
The Chelmsford Chronicle 30th September 1898
OPENING OF A JUBILEE FOUNTAIN
AT STANFORD RIVERS
On Monday afternoon the parishioners of Stanford Rivers turned out en masse to witness the opening ceremony of the Jubilee Fountain which had been erected in commemoration of the Queen’s long reign. The fountain, which is a substantial structure of terra cotta, erected on the edge of the National School playground is really for the use of the school children, who formerly had to get their supply from a ditch nearby. Two gun metal cups engraved with the letters “V.R.” form the drinking vessels. An excellent supply of water has been obtained and by turning a tap it gushes forth bright and clear. The fountain and the festivities on Jubilee Day have cost about £90, which was raised by public subscription. Sir Charles C. Smith, who takes a great interest in all appertaining to the village, and who recently had a new wing added to the school at considerable expense, being a liberal subscriber. Messrs. F.N. Noble and Son, of Ongar, were the builders; and Mr F. Rowntree, of Glasgow, was the architect. The following inscription appears on the fountain:-
Erected by the parishioners of Stanford Rivers in commemoration of the 60 years’ glorious reign of our gracious Queen Victoria, A.D. 1897.
Lady Cunliffe Smith was announced to open the fountain.
Sir Charles C. Smith, Bart., in the course of a few appropriate remarks, alluded to the advantages we now enjoy compared with 60 years ago, and to the time of peace we have had during her Majesty’s reign. Sir Charles went on to say that many schemes were suggested for commemorating the Jubilee in that parish, and that for the erection of a fountain was most popular.
It was wisely determined upon, because although jollifications were very nice while they lasted, no subsequent enjoyment was received from them. He trusted the children of to-day would be as much in advance in 60 years time as we were now compared with 60 years ago.
The children, who had been marshalled in the playground, then sang the Jubilee hymn, “O King of Kings.”
Her Ladyship then turned on the tap, and a splendid supply of water poured forth, some of which she drank.
Sir Charles followed her example, exclaiming, “Very good stuff?” Her Ladyship, “Excellent.” [Laughter].
A beautiful bouquet was presented to her Ladyship by one of the school children.
Mr D. Christy, having also tasted the water, proposed a vote of thanks to her ladyship, Sir Charles briefly responding.
Cheers were given for that gentleman, Lady Smith, and Mr. R. Waltham, the secretary to the committee, who replied. Thanks were also voted to Mr. F. N. Noble, the builder, and the proceedings terminated with the National Anthem and a distribution of buns to the school children.
The committee who so successfully carried out the arrangements consisted of Sir C.C. Smith, Bart., Messrs. W. Millbank, J.S. Freeman, P. McConnell, N. Wilson, D. Christy, and R. Waltham.
During the ceremony Mr. A.S. Day took several photographs.
The school was closed in 1965, he school demolished in 1969 and the site converted into a Traveller site. The fountain is still there, but somewhat neglected and overgrown.