I was invited to the Open Evening at Eskdale School on Monday. The school is closing and although a sad, emotional time, it was a fabulous opportunity for the school to showcase its archives – looking at old photographs, ‘The Highlight’ which was the school magazine, scrap books containing old newspaper articles etc…
Whitby Gazette: August 7th 1953 (page 5) – Headline: Mr J.F. George on a New System
“The new Eskdale School, said Mr George, would absorb all eleven-plus pupils living on the East Side of the river and those villages along Eskdaleside (including villages from which West Cliff had in the past been getting 14 year old pupils) while West Cliff would similarly take in local pupils living on the West Side, and those from Aislaby, Newholm, Lythe and Ugthorpe.”
In the past there had been worries about the mix of urban and rural pupils but West Cliff “had not observed any harmful effects from the association” and “appeared to have benefited by the association.”
Within our school systems now this would probably not cross our minds and the importance of inclusivity is paramount.
Whitby Gazette: August 28th 1953 (page 4) – Headline: School Colour
“Jameson, headmaster of the Whitby Eskdale Modern School, has decided that the school colours shall be bottle green and grey.”
I was speaking to my sixth form volunteer on Tuesday and apparently the new school colours of the combined schools – Eskdale and Caedmon – will be grey and green! Interesting.
“The School badge has not been decided, but will be designed in the art classes of the school during the term which opens on September 15th.”
Reading on in the article the girls are going to be kept busy in the needlework department making blouses to go with their grey pinafore dresses and bottle green gym shorts for PE! No mention of the boys joining in with this activity.
Whitby Gazette: September 25th 1953 (page 1) – Headline: Whitby’s New Modern School is Open
“Compared with some of these very old schools, the new Modern School is like a light and airy home on a new Council housing estate contrasted with a terrace home in the back street of a large city.”
Interesting comparison…
Mr Jameson, the headmaster, had appointed 20 members of staff and the school will be housing 500 pupils increasing to more like 600.
“An elaborate transport system brings the children from the most distant areas – taxi to the village station, train to Whitby, and bus to school. Special school buses bring children from the Sleights and Thorpe districts.”
There are a few school rules to follow for pupils to follow…
“The children are not allowed to wear their ordinary walking-out shoes in the school and they have special wire-mesh lockers in which to keep their rubber or crepe soled classroom shoes. Each child has a personal towel, hat and coat racks numbered the toilet accommodation would not disgrace a luxury hotel and there are shower baths for both girls and boys.”
And other little touches that would not be encouraged or accommodated in our current secondary schools now!
“There is a drying room with steam filled hot pipes raised from the floor where wet coats, hats, shoes and other clothing can be left.”
Old fashioned statements are a plenty in the article…
“a needlework room to delight the heart of any practical schoolgirl who wants to be as clever as mummy with her needle.”
Ending statement…
“Consequently both Schools are starting the task of introducing what is a new educational system to the Whitby district and the progress they make will be watched with intense interest.”
71 Years later and the two schools combine back together again!
Whitby Gazette: July 2nd 1954 (page 2) – Headline: Eskdale County Modern School Official Opening by Alderman R.S Butterfield
“A Union Jack fluttered over the school, and the hall was crowded for the opening ceremony.”
Official opening of the school was on Thursday 1st July 1954 by Alderman R. S. Butterfield – Chairman of the North Riding Education Committee. Actually, tenders for a new school go back to 1939 but it was put on hold due to WWII.
There was a great deal of uneasiness on the part of parents and children from the rural schools as for more than 100 years they had been educated in their own villages and there was much worry about the children travelling on a daily basis backwards and forwards to Whitby…
“To-day that prejudice had disappeared and he thought it was true to say that the happy family feeling which previously existed in their village schools had been continued at Eskdale…”
There did seem to be some ill feeling towards the Grammar School system should their child not gain a place and go to ‘the other school’ but Alderman Butterfield was keen to dispel these feelings…
“…but I would like to see in the North Riding secondary modern education of such calibre and distinction that there will no longer be distress among parents because a boy or girl does not obtain a pass to a grammar school. This lovely school we are opening will, I hope, eventually do that.”
Presentations were made to Alderman Butterfield and I wonder where these items might be now?
“…a book token mounted in a parchment scroll, the work of Mrs E Swain; a mounted school badge on an oak base for use as a paper weight, the gift of the school and made in the workshops; and a travelling clock in leather case from Mr Henderson, the architect.”
Finally, tea was served on flower decorated tables in the dining room and guests were encouraged to have a wonder round the school.
A little extra story…
Whitby Gazette: 4th September 1953 (page 4) Headline: Pool Rescue
13 year old Marie Locker, who will be attending the new Eskdale School was involved in saving the life of 16 year old called Iris when she got into trouble at a local swimming bath. Onlookers thought she was ‘sky-larking’ but Marie realised otherwise and “swam strongly towards the girl in the water. Telling the struggling swimmer to take hold of her shoulders Marie brought her to the side of the pool…” Iris eventually came round and thanked Marie for saving her life.
A great role model for the pupils of the new school, I think. 😉
If you are interested in reading these documents in full, they are available on the digital Whitby Gazette in the library. We are open 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday.
By Claire Marris – Archive Development Officer
#HeritageFund #archivesforall
