James Conway Walter

“ She was a most enthusiastic and energetic worker, and under her the schools attained the highest point of success, both as regards the number of pupils attending and the variety of subjects taught. The school at this time had attained to the highest degree of efficiency which it is ever likely to reach. Not only had Horncastle pupils taken more prizes than those of any other technical school in the Parts of Lindsey, but on the visit of the Government Inspector, Mr. Minton, at the prize-giving in September, 1896, he stated that the school occupied the third place in all England. ”

“ He noticed, in the course of his duties, that in the native schools, beside the regular paid teachers, the more advanced pupils were also employed to instruct younger scholars; each pupil thus having a tutor, and each tutor a pupil; a system by which both were enabled to learn faster, and led to take more interest in their work, than would otherwise have been generally possible. Being an enthusiast in educational matters, he resigned his chaplaincy, with its good stipend, to inaugurate, and himself carry on, a school for the children of Europeans in the Presidency, on the same principles. ”

“ Similarly valuable instruction has been given in later years, but, with diminished funds available, and classes smaller, owing doubtless to the exhaustion in some degree of the stream of candidates for instruction, compared with its flush at the outset of the school's existence, fewer lectures on these extra subjects have been given; and instruction has been confined to more ordinary, but not less useful, work, in drawing, geometric and from models; modelling in clay, painting in water colours and oils, book-keeping, arithmetic, shorthand, French, and so forth. ”

“ The scholars are of both sexes, and between the ages of three years and seven. The school is conducted on Church of England principles, and examined by both Diocesan and Government Inspectors; a Government Grant being earned to supplement the funds of the Watson bequest. The scholars are taught reading, writing and arithmetic, with the various kindergarten subjects. The Secretary to the Charity, H. Tweed, Esq., Solicitor, of Horncastle, pays half the rents to the Lincoln County Council, for teachers' salaries, and retains the other half for repairs and incidental expenses. ”

“ It is hardly too much to say that the result may well be, that in the keen rivalry of nations, which characterizes the present age, England should thus be enabled to more than hold her own in the struggle of industrial life. ”

“ The actual terms of Richard Watson's will are these: "I am very desirous of establishing a small school within the town of Horncastle, wherein the children of such poor persons, as the Governors of the Grammar School shall think objects of charity, may be taught to read, knit, spin, and plain needlework, or sewing. ”

“ The Bell, or Church School, also built in 1814, and accommodating about 200 scholars of both sexes, formed the nucleus of the present Church National Schools. These two schools, the Lancasterian or British, and the Bell or Church School, are the only public elementary schools, named in the Gazetteers for many years, except the Watson Charity School, already described. ”

“ About the same date Joseph Lancaster, a young Quaker, set up a school for poor children, before he was 19 years of age, in a room lent to him by his father, in the Borough Road, Southwark, and in a very short time he had nearly 100 under his charge. He also adopted the monitorial method, but, as a Quaker, omitting the Church teaching of the Bell schools. Persevering in the work, he was received in audience by the King, George III., who gave him encouragement. He then travelled over the kingdom, giving lectures on the new mode of instruction; which in consequence spread with rapidity. ”

“ Mary's Church, giving accommodation for 200 children. Neither in its internal structure, however, nor in its situation in an out-of-the-way back yard, was the former theatre well adapted for school purposes; and although the late Mr. Samuel Goe had in 1869 bequeathed a legacy to the school, which rendered it almost independent of annual subscriptions, the establishment of a much more commodious school by the Wesleyans, in Foundry Street in 1860, affected it unfavourably, the number of scholars gradually decreased, and it was finally closed in 1876. ”

“ The title deeds of this Institution are in the keeping of Mr. H. Tweed, Solicitor, who is Clerk to the Governors; and from these we gather the following particulars of its history. Richard Watson in the latter half of the 18th century was a resident in, and a native of, Horncastle, being the son of James Watson, who had made money by tanning, at that time a staple business in the town. Although engaged in trade he ranked with the resident gentry, his sister, Frances, marrying James Conington, Esq., belonging to a family of good position, not only in the town, but in the county ”

“ In the spring of 1898 the Head Teacher, Miss Foster, gave a series of lectures on "Physiography," being an account, the result of most careful study and practical investigation, of the various geological formations and fossils of the earth, illustrated by specimens largely of her own collecting. [13] These were very instructive, and attended by a fairly numerous class of pupils.
Other valuable courses of lectures were given during this early period of the school's existence. ”

“ Lessons in horse shoeing were given at Horncastle, for the neighbourhood, by Mr. J. B Gresswell, M.R.V.C., of Louth, in May and June, at which nine blacksmiths attended; certificates of the National Association of Farriers being awarded. Lessons on sheep shearing were given at Thimbleby, Kirkstead, and Bucknall, in June, the teacher being Mr. R. Sharpe of Horsington. Dairy lessons on butter making and stilton cheese production were given by Miss Carter, at Woodhall Spa, Kirkby-on-Bain, Minting, and Reed's Beck, in October and November. Lessons in under-draining were
Bridge Street. ”

“ An Indenture is added, witnessing "that on payment by Benjamin Handley of ten shillings to Frances and James Conington, they have granted, sold, and released" the aforesaid property, and "appointed by these presents from the day next before the date of the Indenture, all the said messuages, &c., called by the name of the 'ffoal thing," [3] and that plot commonly called 'Backside,' the closes in Croft abutting on the highway, and lands near the old sea bank ”

“ The original premises are still in use, standing in a retired position, in "Watson's Yard," about 50 yards from West Street; they consist of school buildings, play yard, and teacher's residence. In 1835 the school was enlarged and repaired. In 1895 it was further improved by the removal of bedrooms above, when it was opened up to the roof; at the same time a commodious classroom was added at the east end. Accommodation was thus provided for 120 children. The increase in scholars necessitated an increase in the teaching staff, and the Head Teacher, Mrs. ”

“ These also proved so instructive that she was engaged to repeat them in the summer of the following year; and they were given in eight different parishes, beginning with Langton on June 5th; the attendances being very large, in one case 70 being present.
Mr. Robert Jalland, Surgeon, of Horncastle, also gave a lecture at Kirkby-on-Bain, in April of the same year, on the subject: "How to secure healthy homes," which was very instructive and well attended, over 40 being present. In the autumn of that year a series of five lectures on Cookery were given by Mrs. ”