Thanks to the Higgins family, Turvey was at the forefront of Victorian education. Here is some of the early history of the schools and the staff and pupils who attended them.
A new school was founded by Charles Higgins with a donation of £400 plus the land, made in 1792. This money was to go to anyone who would competently teach the Sunday school children and would include the schoolmaster''s £20 a year salary. The schoolmaster was usually the parish clergyman. Further monies came from Mr Thomas C Higgins of Turvey House. Further funds were raised by subscriptions and grants. Benefactors included the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church (phew!!!)
In 1818 the Houses of Parliament demanded a returns of the education system in Britain. It was noted that at this time Turvey had a population of 813 and a free Sunday school and day school. About 80 each girls and boys attended and the schoolmasters salaries were now £45 a year. There were also lace-making schools run by older ladies - theses were more like mini industries than schools though.
A similar returns of 1833 show that in addition to a church daily school, attended by 40 boys and 40 girls, there was also two Sunday Schools operating. One was run by the Established Church and 140 additional attendees. This 'National' school had a newly opened library (also open to the villagers) and was supported by endowments - the school building is now the village hall. The other school was Independent and had 45 pupils and was funded by subscription. These schools had been funded by a £20,000 grant from the Government, made in this year.
The Infant's School was built in 1841. The playground was 59 x 41 ft and cost around £196 to build. It was to house 133 children although only 45 pupils were being taught there by 1845. The boys who were present were noted as liking school but the lack of girls was possibly because all those over 7 were already employed in the lace trade.
'Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom'
Engraved on a stone on Turvey Infant School.
The first school in Turvey was in the centre of what is now Abbey Square (see picture on right). It was run by a Mr John Gaskin (who's son was a very well known lace-buyer and encouraged the trade in Turvey). John married Kezia How on 11 July 1785 and was buried on 19 October, 1804. The school was reported as 'old and ill adapted to modern education'.
The Parish Registers note the burial of earlier schoolmasters:
