Hullbridge Primary School History

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The Start of the school.

Before there was a school in Hullbridge the children would have to go to the school alongside ST Peter and Paul Church, Hockley.

A school can be found on maps of the village between 1873 and 1896. It is situated on the left hand side of Ferry Road approaching the river, after Pooles Lane. It would offer lessons for the younger children and evening classes for adults during the winter nights.

After 1896 no school is shown until one can be seen on the right hand side before Pooles Lane after 1903.

Hullbridge school was built and opened by Hockley School Board in Easter 1902 with places for 120 pupils, the headmaster was Mr C H Snelgar accompanied by his wife. Tragically he died in July1902 and his wife became temporary head, till Mr H B Blackeby came. This is the building that stands today (2008) at the front of the school. In accordance with the school logs

It became HULLBRIDGE Council School in 1903 when responsibility for Board schools passed to the Education Committee of Essex Council. It was all standard until 1937 when the 'over elevens' transferred to Rayleigh Senior School and the school was renamed HULLBRIDGE Primary School. The 1950s saw a great increase in pupil numbers resulting in a temporary classroom being erected in 1954 and the construction of new premises in 1959. In 1971 the school separated into infants and juniors and was renamed Riverside County Infant and Junior Schools.(SEAX Ref TS 613 & 618)

List of Heads.

• Mr C H Snelgar 1902-1902
• Mrs E P Snelgar 1902-1902
• Mr H B Blackeby 1902-?
• Mr Thomas Day 1907-?
• Miss Fassom 1934-?
• Mrs L P Smith 1940-1946
• Mr O J Welbourne 1946-1946
• Mr F C Emeney 1946-1949
• Mrs L P Smith 1950-?
• Mr Derek Hardy 1962-1987

List of teachers.

• Mrs Alderton,
• Miss E V Alexander.
• Miss A M Anderson,
• Mrs Angel
• Mrs Gladys Chart,
• Mrs Denton
• Mrs Fairbrass,
• Mr Francis
• Mr D Hardy,
• Mrs Hayward,
• ? Ivy King,
• Miss ? Lily,
• Mrs ? Longthorn,
• Mrs Marsh,
• Miss ? Phillips,
• Miss Maria Raven,
• Mr ? Rose,
• Mr M Sheldon,
• Mrs Ida Street nee Smith,(1923-1954)
• Mr ? Staines,
• Mrs ? Staines,
• Mr J Thayer,(photo available)
• Mrs Thornton,
• Miss Tucker,
• Mr Williams,

List of Pupils

To see the admissions to Hullbridge School from 1945 till 1970 Please click on the relevant icon of the book.

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1900's

A photo taken around 1907 showing the school master standing in the porchway of his house whilst next door is his wife in standing by the school boundary.(Courtesy of Dave Wiffin)

The Headmaster in 1907 was Mr Thomas Day and he was accompanied by the daughter of a barge owner Miss Maria Raven.

A photo taken from Ferry Road of Hullbridge Council School around 1907 it is of the school as it was with the entrance to the side. The house next door is that of the school master. The land preceding the school had not yet been developed.(Courtesy of Dave Wiffin)

The back of the above postcard sent 16 Oct 1911 by Mr Best to Mrs N Crampton in Grimsby. He says "My Dear M. I thought you would like a photograph of our school and house. This is the first I think that has been taken, The photographer has been down to the river to take the children as they are being rowed across. When they come I must send you one. Should like to have a line from you so do write soon. Kindest regards to Mr C and love to your self ??(Courtesy of Dave Wiffin)

A photo taken from Ferry Road of Hullbridge Council School around Oct 26th 1908 (as per writing on back of card) it is of children and staff of Hullbridge Council School. The gentleman in the hat with a white beard is believed to be Headmaster Thomas Best. The female teacher is unknown.(Courtesy of Dave Wiffin)

1920's

A photo taken from inside Hullbridge Primary School around 1923.(Courtesy of Evening Echo.1992) The picture shows boys and girls in the same class of children being taught in the only school building at that time, which is now the old building sitauated at the front of the school on Ferry Road. The classroom is believed to be the classroom at the far left which is eventually turned into the dinning room. The teacher is Mrs Ida Street and she is standing by the door leading into the large classroom which was divided by a partition. Behind the blackboard and easel is the door leading out into the playground. For those observant, the children are facing the wrong way, backs to the blackboard. It is believed the photographer had the children face the light to allow him to obtain the best picture possible, Note the 2 boys in the front without a desk.

A photo taken around 1923 showing Ida Street, then Smith, with other Hullbridge teachers Ivy King in front of Ida and Mr and Mrs Staines to the side.(Courtesy of Evening Echo.1992)

1927

A photo taken from inside Hullbridge Primary School around 1927.(Courtesy of Evening Echo.1992 (Mrs E.Coward, nee Dowling of South Woodham)) The picture shows boys and girls in the large classroom in the only school building at that time, which is now the old building sitauated at the front of the school on Ferry Road. The classroom is the in the center of the school building most possibly the right hand side. It is divided by sliding concertina doors which are pulled back in the mornings for assembly., when the teachers can be bothered. This time the children are facing the right way around. The conditions are very cramped but looking at the books piled under the desk this is most likely how things were as there is one pile per child. The desk on the left is most likely the teachers. Mrs Coward remebers the names of many of the children who shared her class all those years ago:- Miriam Deavin, Ernie Judd, Grace Huckle... Sissy and Dick Cook, Jack Holden, Les Holden, Ivy and Harry Ridgeway, Joan Stevens,Dirk Firmin.

In an article written by Jim Worsdale of the Evening Echo he writes

Those youngsters seated at their school desks way back in 1927 or 1928, smiling shyly or cheekily at the camera, probably did not realise they would be making history.

But just a year or so after this moment in time is frozen in the click of shutter over lens, these subjects of a photographer whose name is now beyond recollection had become among the last of generations of children to cross the River Crouch from South Woodham Ferrers every weekday morning and late afternoon to and from the village school in Hullbridge

In 1929 Woodham finally had its own school. Before that, as the Echo recalled last month, children made the long trek across marshland and scrubland from their scattered and isolated homes to the Crouch. Then they were carried by pony and trap at low tide or rowed across when the water was deep over the hardstanding.

One of the children's teachers from those times is standing left in the lovely old photo of school staff dating from around 1923. She was Ida SMith then. Later she became Mrs Ida Street. Now nearly 70 years on, she lives still in Rayleigh.

Mrs Street-seen standing behind Ivy King, and Mr and Mrs Staines on the right - says:"Your pictures of children crossing the Crouch brought back happy memories for me. I started as a teacher in Hullbridge school in 1923. My first class was infants. When we closed school it was my duty sometimes to go with the children from Woodham Ferrers down to the Crouch to see them safely across. The horse and cart belonged to the licensee at the Old Anchor Inn. The horse was kept in the meadow at th eside of the pub, now a car park. I taught at the school for 25 years and have such pleasant memories of those times."

Those memories are shared by Mrs Evelyn Coward, now 72. As Evelyn Dowling, born in South Woodham long ahead of its development as a riverside new town, she walked more than a mile to and from th eriver every day to catch the ferry or ride with other youngsters in the pony and trap. She was among those taught by Ida Smith.

A photo taken from from South of the river looking across to Hullbridge approx., 1927.(Courtesy of Evening Echo.1992 (Mrs E.Coward, nee Dowling of South Woodham)) The picture shows approx., 9 passengers being ferried across by Mr Dick Hymas from Hullbridge to South Woodham Ferrers. A local Thames barge is at anchor with some crew on board. A large number of children wait at the waters edge to be ferried across. The old Anchor Inn is behind the house on the left (Rose Cottage).

Mrs Coward's photos include the above of children patiently waiting on the Hullbridge side of the river at day's end while ferryman Mr Hymas rows a group across the Crouch. Crew on a sailing barge got in the act by facing the photographer capturing the scene from the Woodham bank.

1949

On 10th Sept 1945 a letter was sent out to all School Heads of S.E.Essex Div., advising that from this point on it was necessary for all children under the age of 5 to be logged in the log provided.

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1960

Photo from Andy Claxton of school pals Spring 1960 Hullbridge Primary School, the children are as follows:-
BACK ROW: L-R Stephen Griffiths, Peter Sullivan, Andrew Claxton, Mr D S Hardy (School Headmaster), Edward Hughes or Robin Marshall, ??, ??, ??
NEXT ROW: L-R ??, ??, Christine Hardy, ??, ??, Janice Oakley, ??, Barbara Gatehouse.
FRONT ROW: L-R Phillip Watson, Geoffrey Caton, ??. Alan Thacker, Howard Allen.
TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1958

1959

1960

1961

Photo from Heather Reeve of Hullbridge Primary School female teachers 1961 Left to Right Mrs Weir, Mrs Longthorn, Mrs Alderton, Mrs HaywardTO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

The school football team reached the final of the Primary Schools Cup and lost 2-0 to Glebe School. The team was as follows:- Tony Manyard, Roland Marsh, Robert Cox (Capt), Melvyn Lindsay, Stephen Adams, Stephen Oakman, Richard Defries, Raymond Farnell, Terry Wise, Leslie Withers, Nigel Harber.

1962

Photo from Jean Booth of Hullbridge Primary School prize winners 1962.
Front Row Left to Right:- ??, Wendy Budd, ??,??,??, Susan Symes, Jean Booth, Lelsey Welton, Crispin Harris, ??
Next Row Left to Right:- ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??.
Next Row Left to Right:- ??, Stephen Polly, Andrew Polly, Tony Maynard, Leslie Hughes, Nigel Booth, ??, Stephen Dyer.
Back Row Left to Right:- ??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??,??.TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

Photo from Gill Dove of Mr Francis's class at Hullbridge Primary School 1962/3.
Front Row Left to Right:- ??, Peter Botley, ??,??,
Next Row Left to Right:- ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??,
Back Row Left to Right:- ??,??,??,??,??,??,Peter Carter,??,??,??,??,Andy Polley,Tommy Eginton??.
TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1963

Photo from Jean Booth of Hullbridge Primary School football team 1963.
Front Row Left to Right:- Stephen Polly, ??
Next Row Left to Right:- Vernon Turnball, Andrew Polly, Leslie Hughes, Tony Maynard, Peter Botley, Tommy Eginton.
Back Row Left to Right:- ??,??,Nigel Booth, Keith Warren.TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1964

May 2nd Team of eight girls take part in the "Small schools Netball Trophy at Plumberow school, Hockley. They compete against teams from Plumberow, Sutton and Barling and are victorious. A picture of the competing teams can be seen by Clicking Here
A picture of the victorious team can be seen here by Clicking Here

May 4th With the closure of the Hullbridge Old Time Dancing Club it was agreed at the clubs final meeting that excess funds of £22 17s should be split equally between National Society for Cancer Relief and the Hullbridge School Swimming Pool Fund. Newspaper article click here

June 3rd The training swimming pool nears completion. It is an open air pool with raised sides. The pool is situated in the bottom field on the right when coming from the school entrance, next to the orchard and alongside one of the new annexe classrooms. A picture of the nearly completed pool can be seen by Clicking Here

July 25th The official opening of the swimming pool was performed by councillor Ernie Long of the parish, rural councils and also Chairman of the School Managers and Swimming Pool Committee. In attendance were teachers Mrs Alderton, deputising for Headmaster Mr D Hardy, Mr Rose, Mr Jones. The pool is presently unheated, but plans are in place to change this by raising more funds. One third of the present cost of building the swimming pool is to be paid for by the County as will ongoing maintenance costs. To mark the event a 15 event swimming gala took place and children from the William Read school Canvey participated. An amusing comment in the Local Review newspaper coverage identified the brand new high speed technique for emptying the pool, when Councillor Pound and Mr Trower the local Scout master took a plunge in the dad's race and immediately cooled nearby spectators. To see the article Click here.
To see a photo of Mr Long performing the opening ceremony Click here

1965

1966

The children are as follows:-
BACK ROW: L-R Heath Garwood, ??, Matthew Clark, Dean Cox, Robert ?, ??, ??, Matthew Wood, Mrs Marsh
NEXT ROW: L-R ??, ??, Michael Whittaker, Peter Watson, Chris Lee, ??, ??, Ian Spooner, Simon Bolton
NEXT ROW: L-R Amanda Hall, Alison Knott, ??, ??, ??, Ruth ?, Tina ?, ??, Maureen Andrews.
FRONT ROW: L-R Sue Collins, Jane Munson, Debbie Collins, Christine, Debra, Michelle, Julie Coward
TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1967

The children are as follows:-
BACK ROW: L-R ??, ??,Bernard Quinn,Kevin Lay, ??, ??, David Haley, Keith Chart, ??,Kevin Allen??
NEXT ROW: L-R ??, ??, Mary Quinn,Linda Taylor,Mandy Howell, ??, ??, Janet Howell, Evelyne Swinscoe, ??, ??
NEXT ROW: L-R Keith Bradley, Patrick Milner,Kevin Collins, Peter Bishop, Gerald Rehaag,John Milner,??,??,??,??,Paul Robinson,Kevin White,Robert Milburn,Kevin Reaney, ??
FRONT ROW: L-R ??, ??, ??, ??, Barbara Edgley, Susan Wood, Susan Mathias, Sandra Lay, Debbie Congram, Dawn Wright
TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

The children are as follows:-
BACK ROW: L-R ??, Chris Horton, ??, Caroline, Sandra Everett, ??, ??, Mrs Angel
NEXT ROW: L-R ??, Paul Baker, Michelle Maller, Linda Fearn, ??, ??, ??, ??,
NEXT ROW: L-R A ??, ??, ??, ??, Jimmy Powell, ??, Vanessa ?, ??, ??,
FRONT ROW: L-R ??, ??, ??, ??,
TO VIEW THIS PHOTO LARGER PLEASE CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE.

1974

1975

1976

1977

1992

April. The school had a 90th birthday celebration party and it was attended by some of its old staff and children I particular as documented in the Evening Echo April 10 1992 page 11.

Staff at Hullbridge school pushed the boat out to welcome back familiar faces from the past for its 90th birthday celebrations.

Les Holden's unusual school journeys involved being rowed across the River Crouch from South Woodham Ferrers to Hullbridge Primary School.

Although bad weather scuppered plans for a special reconstruction to mark the old boy's return, there was plenty of nostalgia in a party atmosphere at the Ferry Road infants school.

Ida Street taight at the old school from 1923 to 1954 and took center stage to cut a special anniversary cake. Books, photos and other memorabilia kept the current crop of youngsters fascinated in the Back in Time experiance .