EAST DONYLAND​ / ROWHEDGE

The records of St. Lawrence C of E school are held at the Essex Record Office at Chelmsford. They are an excellent source of information for anyone researching their Rowhedge family history as they give the dates of birth of the children and the names and addresses of their parents. Other records concern the daily goings-on at the school.... punishments, truants, illnesses and deaths, etc., 

George King wrote a note to my great uncle Stephen Cranfield stating that he had several school photos from the 1890s. Anybody know where they might be now? George King must have died many years ago.

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ESSEX STANDARD - Friday 29 August 1862. “OPENING OF THE NEW NATIONAL SCHOOLS AT EAST DONYLAND.- On Wednesday last these schools were formally opened in the presence of a large number of persons. Before the opening an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached on behalf of the schools by the Rev. W. Harrison, M.A., Rector of Birch, from Proverbs xxix, 15th verse – “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” At the close of the sermon a collection was made amounting to £10.1. – After the service the schools were formally opened by the Rev. V.M. Torriano, rector; and among those present we observed Charles Gray Round, Esq., Revds. J. Papillon, W. Harrison, C.R. Harrison, E.T. Waters, J.H. Swainson, E. Wilkinson, W. Goode, and J.F. Swan; P. Havens, Esq., W.R. Havens, Esq., Miss Torriano, Mr. W. Brown, Mr. S.D. Daniell, Mr. J. Grimes, Mr. Parkes, Mr. Allen Edwards, &c. The proceedings concluded by the children singing the National Anthem. The school, of Gothic design, is built of red brick and stone dressings. It is 40 feet long by 18 feet wide; open timber-stained roof and floor of oak clumps. It will hold 300 children, and the desks and school fittings are according to the Government plan. The class room is 13 feet 3 inches by 13 feet. It has an entrance porch and a large playground; the total cost is £450, of which the Committee of Council on Education gave £111, and the remainder was raised by public subscription. The schools were designed and erected by Mr. Joseph Grimes, builder, of Colchester, who has performed the work in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner.”