The Teachers

Through all the censuses, from 1841 to 1891, there were no teachers living in "School House", "School Farm", or "School Cottage" so, where were they? I began my search, for obvious reasons, with the 1841 census and continued through each census up to 1891. I didn't bother with the 1901 census because a quick search through that, with its myriad of errors and mis-transcriptions, showed me how difficult that was going to be. It was hard enough trying to find my family when I already knew who they were, where they were living, where they were born and what they did! I couldn't believe the mis-spellings nor how the whole village of 'Hooe' had become 'Hove' and was, virtually, wiped off the map! After repeated requests to have the errors corrected, over a few years now, still nothing has been done. Anyway, I digress, but what a pig's ear they made of it - compare the 1901 census with those of 1881 and 1891 where it was all done by volunteers and kindness and not for money!

The 1841 census was taken before the building of the National School, in 1845, but I didn't know what I might find; the results were interesting but not entirely clear.

I have given, below, the full extracts from the various censuses mainly for those who, like me, are avid family historians and just love lists of names and addresses but they're here, also, because I found them interesting while, as usual,they answered some questions and raised others.

1841 CENSUS

I couldn't find any mention of a teacher or school master - not living within the parish of Hooe, anyway. If there was a school here for the ordinary villagers then it would most likely have been a "Sunday School" and any teacher may well have lived outside the parish so no record would appear in the census.

1851 CENSUS

1851 - "Lamb Inn", Hooe, Sussex - PRO ref HO 107 Piece No. 1638 Folio 181v Page 25

In 1851, there is the first reference to a "teacher" and a "National School", which is what Hooe School would have been - a Church of England school. Elizabeth Pilbeam may well have been the only teacher but there may have been a Head Teacher living outside the parish.

1851 - "Late Cooper′s", Hooe, Sussex - PRO Ref HO 107 Piece No. 1638 Folio 177v Page 17

Charlotte Chapman is now the only teacher mentioned and she's not living in 'School House' or 'School Farm' but in 'Late Cooper's' house. It seems that many of the properties, in Hooe, in 1851 at least, were known by the name of a previous owner. Thus, we have "Late Cooper′s; "Late Blackman′s"quot;; "quot;Late Beany′s"; and "Late Porter′s". I have no idea who these people were but would appear to be farmers or tenants.

1861 CENSUS

1861 - "Sandhill", Hooe, Sussex - PRO ref RG9 Piece No. 568 Folio 143v Page 8

In the 1861 census, Elizabeth Pilbeam, the teacher from 1841 is no longer mentioned but she may have married though I couldn't find any Elizabeth, aged around 38, in Hooe. She, of course, could have moved out of the area or may have died of an illness. I haven't, so far, checked the registers.

Whatever happened, it looks as though Charlotte Chapman may have been the only teacher, in 1861. The "Melville & Co." directory of 1858 (page 245), also mentions Miss Chapman and the school; viz: -

"There is also in this parish an excellent free school, supported by voluntary contributions.", and lists "Chapman, Miss, National School".

Unfortunately, the earliest "School Log Book", in the Lewes Record Office, is that of 1871-1903, so doesn't help.

"Sandhill" is the original and correct name for what is now shown on modern maps as "Sandhall" and in some cases "Sand Hall". The change most certainly came about because of a mis-pronunciation, possibly, to a map-maker or, perhaps, an later owner thought the new name more stylish!

My grandfather, in his book, "Records of |Hooe", gives the reason for the orignal name:

"Sandhill Farm was so named because of its sand hill from which sand was obtained for building purposes."

1871 CENSUS

Strangely, enough there aren't any teachers or schoolmasters, in Hooe, according to the 1871 census.Of course they may have lived in Ninfield or somewhere else outside the district.

The preceding year, 1870, an "Education Act" was passed which divided the country into secular school districts (roughly 2,500). There were many other major changes to the way schools were run and managed. It created an infant stage for children aged from five to seven years old so that at seven they were transferred to the Elementary School. It, also, established "School Boards" which had to be elected by local ratepayers and were responsible for the management and running of the school.

Perhaps, the school was closed until all these changes could be brought in and that is why there were no teachers in the 1871 census. It′s a possibility but I don|′t really know how likely it is.

1881 CENSUS

The first extract , which is of Ninfield, gives three of the family as being "Elementary Teachers" but we don′t know where the school was at which they taught. Could it have been Hooe or did Ninfield have a school?

1881 -- "School House, Ninfield, Sussex PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1042 Folio 85 Page 11

1881 - "Rose Cottage", Hooe, Sussex PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1042 Folio 76 Page 19

1881 - "School House", Ninfield, Sussex PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1042 Folio 81 Page 3

In the 1881 census we have two teachers living in Hooe (both from Middlesex) and one living in Ninfield (who would have taught at the school in Ninfield).

In the 1861 census of Hooe, there was a school mistress, named Charlotte Chapman, aged 53, who lived and was born in Hooe. Whether Mary Chapman (born Pevensey) was some relation to her, I don′t know because Mary doesn′t appear in any of the censuses for Hooe. It is strange that two people, with the same surname, and living so relatively close to each other, should share the same occupation; strange but it′s possible.

1891 Census

The 1891 census was taken four years before my grandfather took up the position of Head Teacher at Hooe Elementary School, so it′s almost certain that the following people would have taught there until 1895 and were his and my grandmother's predecessors.