| ID: GWG_SCH / Tony Millatt
| Title | Great Wigborough School |
| Abstract |
Photographs taken in 2019
Great Wigborough School was built 1854
1874 National School, Miss Susannah Humphrey, mistress [ Kelly's Directory ]
1882 National School built 1854 for 60 children, Miss Julia Foddy, Mistress. [ Kelly's Directory ]
The 1881 Census has Julia Foddy, age 26, lodger in Great Wigborough, born Yardley Gobion, Northamptonshire. She is lodging with Sarah Whithams and her niece Ada Whithams. Ada appears in Kelly 1882 as mistress at Little Wigborough School.
1894 National School (mixed), built in 1854 & enlarged in 1889 for 80 children; average attendance, 52; Mrs J. Hill, mistress [ Kelly's Directory ]
1899 National School (mixed), built in 1854 & enlarged in 1889, for 116 children; average attendance, 40; Mrs Margaret Whitehead, mistress [ Kelly's Directory ]
1914 Public Elementary (Church of England) School (mixed), built 1854 & enlarged in 1889, for 97 children; average attendance 34; Miss Amy R. Talbot, mistress. [ Kelly's Directory ]
1931 Senior (11+) children were transferred to Birch School [ TBM_BCR_001 ]
8 Dec 1932 At a meeting of Wigborough Parochial Church Council, the Chairman mentioned the change which had taken place in the management of the school, Mrs Mason having replaced Mrs Hurst as Head-Mistress. He also stated that the Education Authorities had decided to close the school at the end of the current term.
1 June 1934 at a meeting of the Parochial Church Council, the chairman complained "Wigborough School had been left in a bad state of repair when it closed in 1932."
5 June 1953 opened as Coronation Hall [ SG01_086_005 ]
2017 Coronation Hall sold for £333,000 for development. Planning permission for two houses. Half the final proceeds to go to Peldon and half to PCC of Wigborough for the Church.
Another Great Wigborough School
There was another school in Great Wigborough. Up to 1888, as well as the main part of the parish of Great Wigborough, there were 3 Detached Parts. One of the Parts stretched well to the west into what is now thought of as Tiptree.
In those days there was a wide expanse of Tiptree Heath, but no parish of Tiptree, and the area now thought of as Tiptree belonged to various neigbouring parishes.
An Independent Chapel was built on the road from Tiptree to Layer Marney - Newbridge Road, now part named Chapel Road. A school was built next to the Chapel - and in fact both Chapel and School were in the Detached Part of Great Wigborough.
The school is long closed, but the chapel thrives, now as the United Reformed Church. Peggy Chaplin writes in her 2014 History of Tiptree United Reformed Church:
A notable event was the erection of the schoolroom in 1844 (on the site now occupied by houses opposite the entrance to our church car park in Chapel Lane). For about 20 years this was the only day school within 7 miles. From 1870 it became the British School, and received a grant of £50 a year from the government. After the Church of England erected its school in Tiptree, the British School had to close as it was unable to finance itself. After the school closed as a day school, the building continued to be used as a meeting place for Sunday School and church activities of many kinds until 2004.
A Local Government Board Order transferred this Detached Part of Great Wigborough to Messing in 1888. At the same time, the other Detached Parts of Great Wigborough were transferred to Tolleshunt Knights and to Layer Marney.
Sources and Thanks:
A Mixture of Memories by Peggy Chaplin (Tiptree United Reformed Church history)
Carly Ann
Gill Graham
Tammy Lou
Alan Theobald
Read More
Great Wigborough Congregational Chapel
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| Author | Tony Millatt |
| Source | Mersea Museum
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| ID | GWG_SCH
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| Related Images: |
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| ImageID: | CLA_SCH_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School interior
Carly Ann on Facebook: "I've managed to get a few pictures (through an open window) of the inside of the derelict community hall on school lane."
Alan Charles Theobald: "At the youth club we had a full size snooker table that was stored somewhere and it was laid on top of some benches in the kitchen. We also played Table tennis at one end of the hall while others had a record player to listen and dance to the latest pop music. On another night we had carpentry lessons. I remember making a bedside cabinet.They were Happy Days".
Tammy Lou: "Loved the youth club. They would organise for all the kids to go roller skating ice skating, cinema and rounders on Colins field behind the hall while dodging the sheep poo lol."
| | Date: | May 2019 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Carly Ann |
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| ImageID: | CLA_SCH_003 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School interior | | Date: | May 2019 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Carly Ann |
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| ImageID: | CLA_SCH_005 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School interior, taken through a window.
There is a large crack in the wall behind the piano. | | Date: | May 2019 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Carly Ann |
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| ImageID: | GGR_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School
1854 National School built
1931 Seniors transferred to Birch
1933 School closed and juniors transferred to Birch.
5 June 1953 opened as Coronation Hall. Eventually the Hall became disused.
2017 Wigborough Coronation Hall sold for £333,000 for development Half the final proceeds to go to Peldon and half to PCC of Wigborough for the Church.
2 July 2021 school has been demolished and site cleared. | | Date: | 26 February 2019 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Gill Graham |
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| ImageID: | GWG_SCH_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School early 1920s. William Johnson is 5th from the right in the back row. He was born 1911 and lived at Staffords Corner. | | Date: | c1921 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Keith Johnson |
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| ImageID: | GWG_SCH_003 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School early 1920s. William Johnson is standing on his own in the back row from the right. | | Date: | c1922 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Keith Johnson |
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| ImageID: | HH06_GWG_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School. Group 7.
Back row 1. Amy Talbot teacher, 2. Dorothy Christmas, 3. Joe Rout 4. Hedly Theobald, 5. Edd Christmas, 6. Harold ? Theobald, 7. Charles Douson
Middle row 1. Florry Fen, 2. Con Christmas, 3. Trevor Wilkins, 4. Greg Ponder, 5. Emm Goody, 6. George Matthews
Front row 1. Harold Ponder, 2. Peter Clarke, 3. Connie Douson 4. E. Christmas, 5. Beatrice Frances, 6. Ida Williams 7. Maurice Williams, 8. D. Christmas
Great Wigborough School was founded in 1854 and closed December 1932. | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Heather Haward Collection |
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| ImageID: | SG01_085_003 | | Title: | Concert performed by Wigborough residents 1952. Venue Peldon Village Hall (the old hall, converted from the former village school).
L-R 1. Ted Clarke, 2. Dorothy Newman, 3. John White (senior), 4. Chrissie Griggs, 5. Mrs Lackland, 6. Colonel Lackland, 7. Dolly Rout, 8. Fred Taylor, 9. Nellie Buckle, 10. Mary Norrell. | | Date: | 1952 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Sheila Gray |
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| ImageID: | SG01_086_005 | | Title: | Great and Little Wigborough Coronation Hall opened. Photo shows Mr G.C. Horn, Mrs R.W.H. Hortin, Mr V.W. Gray and Mr W.E. Burrill.
The Hall was originally a school but it was closed in 1932.
From Essex County Standard | | Date: | 5 June 1953 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Sheila Gray |
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| ImageID: | TLD_SCH_003 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School. View from the School Lane.
| Date: | May 2020 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Alan Theobald |
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| ImageID: | TLD_YCL_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough Youth Club outing to Calais many years ago. Pic taken on the ferry. From the left Mark Balls from Peldon, Alan Theobald in the middle from Wigborough and John Reynolds on the right, also from Peldon. I think back then all a little under age boozing on the trip over to France.
Posted on Facebook 28 Sept 2018 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Alan Theobald |
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| ImageID: | TML_SCH_001 | | Title: | Great Wigborough School
Photograph posted on Facebook. Tammy Lou says:
"Soon to be no more. Will be sad to see it go. So many happy childhood memories spent in this place. Family parties and youth club, and the whole villages coming together for the yearly jumble sale. And once an old school house, hence the name of the road School Lane. Why could they not build another village hall for the new kids now in the village? We loved it as kids some where to hang out and meet new friends in the village."
Susan Denise Williams: "What a shame it's come to knocking down our village hall. Had many happy times being there with my late grand parents and my mum and dad and sisters. Having raffles and vegetable and fruit prizes and bakery prizes for best bakery and bean and bag races out side. Had many happy times and memories there as a small child. Hate to see it all go ..."
Gwen Aylward: "Yes a shame spent many a time there in youth club and many other things. I remember my father clearing the parking area and finding adders and slow worms in the rocks as I helped him as a youngster. Lots of memories there."
| | Date: | cMarch 2019 | | Source: | Mersea Museum / Tammy Lou |
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