1 All the original spelling, punctuation and capitalisation have been retained. Expansions are marked thus [xxx]
2 A sheep fair held near the Dog & Gun
3 Managers were a committee assigned to literally 'manage' the overall running of the school. The vicar and various members of the Bairstow family usually made up the members of this committee.
4 In celebration of Royal Oak Day
5 The text is worn and unreadable at this point and is damaged in several other places on this page
6 There are repeated instances of pupils being obliged to go to 'any school but this' as a consequence of them or their families being employed in some capacity at the Junction Mill. Evidently there was some antagonism towards Sutton Mill from the Junction Mill proprietor, Mr Tetley.
7 The vicar, as expected, made regular weekly visits as did the Bairstow family and their associates. The role of the latter ranged from active participation in lessons such as needlework to that of mere observers of various lessons, as is the case in this entry
8 A reference to bonfire toffee?
9 A recently appointed teaching assistant
10 William Greenwood had been Head Master for 24 years and died three weeks after retiring his post
11 This decision highlights the level of autonomy held by this and other schools at the time
12 The maximum possible attendance was 447
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Extracts from Sutton National School Log Book 1874-18871
W/E 25th April 1874
Left - Mary Ellen Wilson & Emma Overend to go full time in mill
May 1874
Total Number of children on school books 187
W/E 20th June 1874
Music Lesson – Commenced song 'O Merrily, Merrily blows the wind' for the evening we also sang 'God save the Queen' in honour of the Queens' accession, the anniversary of which is tomorrow
W/E 27th June 1874
About 60 attendances have been lost this week by hay-making
W/E 11th July 1874
Upwards of 100 attendances have been lost through Hay-making. Only one girl was present in the sixth class on Monday morning: the first time I have known this to be the case
W/E 25th July 1874
109 attendances have been lost through Hay-making and gathering fruit
W/E 29th August 1874
Holiday – Three weeks including Sutton Feast week commencing Aug 2, and the Parish Feast week commencing Aug 9
W/E 26th Sept 1874
109 attendances at least, lost by Measles and many by Malsis Fair2
W/E 24th Oct 1874
Lessons – Physical Geography: Plateaus & Plains of N. America. Music: New song, 'Cheerful in duty', commenced
W/E 13th March 1875
Small Pox – there is a case in the village of Sutton Mill, but the managers3 have decided not to exclude the children of the same house from the school at present
W/E 31st March 1875
Mr M Bairstow on Tuesday morning brought the astounding news that the Rev. the Vicar had got married that morning
W/E 1st May 1875
Official letter – My parchment certificate containing the report of the examination: 'The school continues to be conducted with great care and energy, and the children have passed a creditable examination'
W/E 8th May 1875
Deviation from time table – On Monday afternoon at half past one, it was noised about that a Road Engine was coming for the old boiler at Mr Hartley's mill. The children were therefore allowed to stay in the playground until it had passed although it was after the usual time for commencing. After it was gone by, several boys, instead of coming into school, ran after it and came very late to school in consequence. All were caned
W/E 29th May 1875
Teachers on the school staff:
- William Greenwood, Certificated teacher of the first class
- Fanny Ann Penneiston, Certificated teacher of the third class, infant mistress and sewing mistress
- Richard Henry Laycock, Pupil teacher of the fourth year
- James Smith, Pupil teacher of the second year
- James Cryer, Pupil teacher of the first year
W/E 11th Dec 1875
A heavy snow storm on Monday morning brought the attendance very low, and continued cold weather kept it down
W/E 22nd January 1876
A full timer – Jane E. Walton went full time at the mill on Monday though one month under 13: but on my calling the attention of Mr James Bairstow to it she was sent to school all next day, and is to come on until 13
W/E 29th April 1876
List of Songs submitted to the inspector (those marked m were sung in the morning & those a in the afternoon)
- God save the Queen
- God bless the Prince of Wales
- Home sweet home
- The Violet
- The Englishman
- The Blacksmith (a one verse)
- Buttercups & daisies
- The little lark (a)
- March away
- O Sailor Boy (m)
- Round : "If I were a cobbler"
- That's not the way at sea (m)
W/E 27th May 1876
Lessons - Geography: 1. Finished Seas & commenced Straits of Europe. Music: Sang the National Anthem on Wed in honour of the Queen's birthday
W/E 22nd December 1876
The Vicar dismissed the children for a fortnight holiday. Two oranges were given to each child present, except 4 boys who behaved badly by kicking the desk, and two sent to each child on the books but absent
22nd March 1877
Mrs M Bairstow & Miss Clara Bairstow of Springfield visited the school this afternoon and heard the children sing. Kindly promised the children some oranges
23rd April 1877
Left - full time at the mill : William Smith, Thomas Crossley, Minerva Whitaker, Alice Mary Parker, Mary Wilkinson, Caroline Wilkinson
30th April 1877
Mr Weir, Photographer, took negatives of the children today. Three groups in the morning & one in the afternoon
28th May 1877
Three brown bears from the Pyrenees passed the school at noon as the children should have assembled
29th May 1877
Only some half dozen bits of oak in all the school today4
20th June 1877
Anniversary of the Queens Accession; National Anthem sang
3rd August 1877
Three weeks holiday: Sutton and Sutton Mill Feasts both at the same time this year
20th October 1877
Science & Art Classes and Night school soiree held this evening
2nd November 1877
Mr Thomas Berry, Surveyor of the Township visited the school this evening, to request that the children be cautioned against stopping a drain under the road near the school
Sutton in Keighley Sch.... Instructions to School cleaner : Daily Duties:
No date (but in pages of March 1878)
- Not later than 8am to light the fires, & place in the ...........5 supply of coals ready for use, as directed by the principal teacher
- Not later than 8.30am to dust all the forms, window sills, & sch[ool] furniture
- After complet[ing] each mornings' duties, to leave the outer doors all unlocked & also to see that the doors are locked ......... close of the afternoon sch[ool].
- After the close of the aft[ernoo]n. school ............ every even[in]g meet[ing]s to sweep the ......... room, class rooms, & entrance ..........
Weekly Duties
- To wash the entrances, fireplaces, & conveniences, & to polish the fire grates & fixtures
- To dust the maps, diagrams & .......
Monthly Duty
- To clean the ........ inside & out
Quarterly Duty
- To whitewash the conveniences
Miscellaneous Duties
- To fetch the water required for drinking in the sch[ool], so as always to have a good supply of clean, fresh water on hand
- To get the school coals up
- To report to the B[oar]d any necessary repairs required to be made in the sch[ool] property
Memoranda
The school cleaner must provide all Brushes, ....., Firewood, Dusters, etc, required in carrying out the above named duties. 15/- per annum allowed for their ........ Sunderland Gill gets 7/- per week extra as above
2nd April 1878
I examined standard I in arithmetic between 11 and 12 am. It became so dark that we were obliged to light the gas
10th June 1878
Whit Monday Holiday - Sunday School Treat. The service in church was the same as last year, except the sermon, which was on I Sam.xvi. 13 "The spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward". The number of teachers & children forming the procession was 140, being an increase of 3 on last year, although 3 children were absent and James Smith, senior pupil teacher was sent home by request of Mr Walter Bairstow, for refusing to carry the chief banner, which has always been borne by the senior pupil teacher. Mrs Bairstow of Royd Hill, with her former & accustomed liberality provided tea & buns, and lent a field for us to play in. Although the weather had been wet for some days, a stiff breeze had dried the grass nicely during the morning, and football and cricket were largely patronized, Mr Walter's presence giving considerably more life to this part of the day's enjoyments. Great interest was taken in four balloons which Mr John Green successfully sent towards Keighley. It was somewhat late when all assembled on the lawn to receive Mrs Bairstows parting gifts of gingerbread & nuts, and to give the usual deserved cheers for our kind entertainers. The Rev the Vicar who formerly had done this part of the business, was unfortunately obliged to retire early by a bilious attack
2nd September 1878
Off - Cain Barrett & John Wm Smith, full time: Martha Smith to go to the Junction Mill, & consequently any school but this6
4th September 1878
Mary Ellen Brierley, 4th class, died this morning of gastric fever
1st May 1879
History: oral lesson finishing Henry VII
23rd September 1879
Alice Marian Riley, Sutton Mill, a scholar in the infants' Department, left the parish this morning for London, en route for New Zealand
26th September 1879
The Rev. the Vicar visited the school this morning, and examined the 1st class in Religious Knowledge & Miss Ellen Bairstow & Miss Threlfall visited the school this afternoon & heard the children sing7
13th October 1879
Excuse brought from a boy for not having learned Ps.xxiii.6 repeat this morning: "We hadn't a Bible: we had a Testament but it hadn't it in"
27th October 1879
A novel excuse given by a little girl, sister of the boy mentioned a fortnight ago, for not learning the Scripture repetition for this morning: She was working on Sat[urday] & would not learn it last night because it might be breaking the Sabbath-day
6th November 1879
Not so much toffy taken from children to-day, as sometimes in former years. Children were cautioned yesterday against bringing it in8
21st April 1880
I examined the 3rd class in Catechism: 2 said correctly
17th May 1880
Teachers on the school staff:
- William Greenwood, Certificated Teacher of the first division of the first degree
- Lucy Holloway, Certificated Teacher of the first division of the second class: assistant for infants & needlework
- James Cryer, assistant, qualified under both Articles 60 and 79
- Alfred Clough, Pupil Teacher of the second year
3rd July 1880
I went to Manchester at the request of the Managers to examine Heywood's Premier Desk, as they contemplate having new floor & desks this summer. Approved
9th July 1880
A boy caught napping during lessons this afternoon. This is the third case within a short period. I have not observed such a thing before in the first class.
28th March 1881
I was absent to-day, by leave from the Managers, distributing Census schedules, in the morning from 11, and in the afternoon from 1.30 to 2, and after 3 o'clock
4th June 1881
Holiday - On June 1st in honour of the marriage of Miss Ellen Bairstow, for many years a liberal supporter of the school and generous friend of the scholars to Mr. J.R. Jennings of Riddlesden. Tea given in the school in the evening to all scholars and teachers of the Day & Sunday schools. The Kildwick Prize Brass Band played several pieces of music in the playground
W/E 16th July 1881
No school on Tu[esday] M[orning] in consequence of the funeral of Mr Matthew Bairstow
W/E 3rd September 1881
Official Letter - Officer of Health's Department. Settle, Aug 31st 1881
Dear Sir, - As an outbreak of Scarlet Fever has occurred in Sutton, it becomes my duty to urge upon you the necessity of preventing as far as possible the attendance at school of any child who has either recently had the disease, or who resides in a house where there are other cases. It is during convalescence from Scarlet Fever that the infection is most active. No child should be allowed to come in contact with others while the skin is peeling. As a rule six weeks should elapse from the commencement of the illness, before a child should be considered free from infection. This applies to the very mildest as well as to severe attacks. Should you have reason to suspect the existence of infectious disease at the residence of any of your pupils, I shall be glad if you will kindly let me know, so that the necessary inquiries may be made. Any communication I may receive on this subject will be considered as confidential.
I am yours truly
Francis E Atkinson L.P.C.P. Lond etc
Medical Officer of Health
W/E 5th November 1881
Complaint against Alfred Clough for tearing a little boy's hair off
W/E 25th February 1882
Communications from Parents - Patrick Kelly, a foreman at Sutton Mill, who has taken out several patents for improvements in combing machines, sent by his daughter, asking Mr Hoyland9 to work the following sum in her exercise book, as he could not understand it: "Divide the difference between 449550 and 1850 by 350". John Clough, a man who was in the first class here some 23 years ago, sent a similar message with regard to the following: "Bertie has 85 marbles, & Percy 37. If B gives P 19, how many has B more than P ? The same again sent that he had not a slate large enough for the following, though his daughter told him it was a sum in Short Division: "Subtract 12 from 87,438,516 as many times as you can". Wm Clapham, druggist, Crosshills, complains that the St.III sums set are past the comprehension of children
W/E 1st April 1882
I commenced duties as Head Master on Wednesday afternoon in succession to Mr W. Greenwood10. J.H. Bentley
W/E 29th July 1882
Attendance - Very low. Average for week 157.2 - Continued Average 171.9
W/E 24th March 1883
The managers have decided to give no holiday this Easter (except Good Friday) but to give a weeks holiday at Whitsuntide11
W/E 21st April 1883
Attendance - Average 170.6. Daily Average 199.4. Cont Av 178.7
Assistant Master late twice on Mon[day] 8m & Tues[day] 3m
W/E 6th May 1883
New Books - Another parcel of Books received from Leeds on Wednesday.
Historical Readers 2doz (Gills' no 2 Early England)
Report - The following is a copy of H.M.I's Report
"There has been a most creditable & most satisfactory improvement during the past year, & the school is now very well taught in every part of the work"
Teachers on the school staff:
- John H Bentley Certificated Teacher of the first division of the second class
- James Smith Certificated Teacher of the third division of the second class
- Lilly Catterall Certificated Teacher of the third division of the second class
- John W Hill monitor
W/E 18th August 1883
The prizes given last year & former years by Mrs Wilson for needlework are discontinued this year, & were given by her for good attendance instead. The prizes were distributed on Monday morning by Mrs Wilson, the vicar also present & giving the children a short address.
List of Prizes12
St IV V & VI
1. Craven Greenwood 444 Paint Box
2. Lilian Greenwood 434 Inkstand
3. Tom Wilson 422 Drawing Materials
Stand III
1. Thomas Ramsbottom 444 Drawing Materials
2. Ellen Walker 439 Small Album
3. Henry Roberts 432 Paint Box
4. Ed. Whiteoak 426 Pen Tray
St II
1. John Greenwood 445 Inkstand
2. Walter Greenwood 444 Stencilling Box
3. Stan E Brown 440 Inlaid Box
4. Herbert Walton 440 Drawing Slate
5. Mary E Cryer 437 Album
Stand I
1. Ellen Barker 441 Money Box
2. Ja[me]s Wilson 434 Knife
3. Emily Earnshaw 430 Box
4. Agnes Laycock 429 Album
5. A. Wilhelm Wilson 428 Purse
Infants 6yrs old
1. Annie Cryer 445 Ladies' Companion
2. Charles Davy 435 Frame with photograph
3. Frank Dickinson 431 Draughts & Board
Infants 5yrs old
1. Thomas H Parker 419 Scrapbook
2. Cha[rle]s A Clough 416 Box of tools
3. M.A. Lister 402 Plush frame
Infants 4yrs old
1. Albert Haggas 398 Plush frame
2. W[illiam] Greenwood 396 Wood frame
3. Marg[are]t Petty 395 Plush frame
W/E 27th October 1883
Ishmael Clough & several other men have been working in & about school all the week laying water pipes to supply the school & schoolhouse & also placing a new wash basin in the infants' passage for the use of girls & infants
W/E 8th March 1884
Visitors - Wm Whiteoak on Wednesday in consequence of his son John being kept in for non preparation of home work. He objects to the boy doing home work at all saying "he won't be bothered with it". The boy is a Half Timer in St IV
W/E 29th March 1884
The school board has appointed an attendance officer. He has instructions to call at this school every Wednesday morning to enquire for absentees.
Admission of a boy - A child from Glusburn was admitted last week who will be 8yrs of age in April 1884. He has never been to school before
17th August 1885
Work done during the holidays
- Infant school ventilator lowered & made weather tight
- Big school & classroom cemented from the floor to a height of nearly 5ft. Also the girls & boys' passages
- The fireplace in the Classroom, the cistern with the cupboard underneath have been cleared away and a large cupboard 12ft high fixed in the place
- Inside walls coloured & ceiling whitewashed
- The outside woodwork to be painted shortly
28th June 1886
Staff
- Henry.C.R.Bucke Certificated Teacher of the first division of second class
- F.C. Toothill, Certificated Teacher of the division of second class
- J.W. Hill, Pupil Teacher in third year
- E. Slater, Pupil Teacher in second year
- H. Slater, monitress
2nd July 1886
Weather extremely warm - children disinclined to work particularly in the afternoon
The 4th class examined by the Vicar in divinity
23rd August 1886
Another week commenced with small attendances - 130 and 99 present. The latter number was due to the visit of a circus to Cross Hills - many of the younger children went to it
20th September 1886
The Vicar has this evening laid down the hard and fast rule that no girl has, under any circumstances whatever, to be punished with the cane! As a consequence of this, I feel more or less cramped in the performance of my duty
12th October 1886
Taught the 4th Standard "Compound Division by factors". They were entirely unacquainted with division by factors, including of course the method of finding the "true remainder".
14th October 1886
Wet day - small attendance
W/E 19th February 1887
St[andards] IV - VIII drew a map of Ireland from memory - some very good
W/E 30th April 1887
Holiday on account of measles
End of book
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