Spaldington Board School

• The Methodist Chapel was used for many years as the school at Spaldington.  It was firstly a Methodist Chapel, built 1820. and was used as a school when the first school board was formed in 1875.  The Methodists continued to use this building along with the school until they purchased a wooden building from the Air Station and erected it on a site given by Mr John Todd, Estate Owner.

• 15th April 1875 - The first meeting of the members of the school board for the united district of Spaldington, Gribthorpe and Willitoft was held in the Wesleyan chapel, Spaldington.  Those present were William Bramley; Charles Boast (Vice Chairman); Thomas Oak (possibly farmer in Spaldington); John Thomas Hill; Richard Sykes (possibly from Sykes Farm); John Steeper (Chairman, Fir Tree Farm); Robert McNiellie; Mr Henry Green (Clerk); and Mr Storry (Treasurer).  

• Main items on the agenda of the first meeting were negotiations with Lord Londesborough's agent to obtain land adjoining the school for use as a recreation ground.  This was agreed and a 21 year lease was granted by Lord Londesborough.

• In November of that year the following tenders were received for alterations and additions to the school building:  Robert Ask for joinery and carpentry work - £85; John Maime, stonemason - £14; Henry Creaser for the entire contract - £195.15s.0d.; Henry Creaser for carpentry and painting - £87.6s.0d.  The tender of Henry Creaser was accepted.

• Further tenders were invited in 1892, for the erection of a classroom, cloakroom and out-offices, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by Mr. William Johnson of Howden, the School Board's architect.  Tenders were to be addressed to Henry Green, Clerk, by 19th September 1892.  An advertisement appeared in the Howdenshire Gazette on Friday, 16th September 1892.

• 1915:  Miss Atkinson commenced at the school. 

• 21st June 1921 - Mrs E.M. Whitaker commenced duties at the school. 

• 3rd November 1924 - Miss M. Parminter started working at the school.

• 23rd December 1925 - Miss Atkinson finished duties after 10 years.  

• 1926 - Miss Crick commenced duties. 

• 1927 - Miss Kirk of Hornsea commenced duties.  

• 1931 - Miss (Madeline) Jessop of Howden commenced duties.  Miss Jessop cycled from Bellcross to teach the infants.  [3]

• 1st August 1946 - Miss Parminter, Headmistress, left the school after 22 years. 

• 1st August 1946 - Miss E. Everett commenced duties as School Mistress at the school.  Miss Everett lived in the School House.  When she left Spaldington, Miss Everett took up a teaching post in Bishop Burton.  [3]

• Mr Harold Foley came next and his wife, Monica, taught Domestic Science at Howden.  They may have had three children, Glyn and Marilyn being two of them.  [3]

• Later teachers included Mr Foley, Mr Wood, Mrs Morton, Mrs Halcon and Mr Candy.   [2]

• In 1967 Mr Gandy the Spaldington School headmaster lived in the school house for a short while. He moved on from Spaldington school to be replaced by Mr Wood from Pocklington.  The house remained empty for a while until another teacher Mr Penfold and his family moved in.

• The village primary school closed around 1971 and the pupils were relocated to Howden Junior School in Hailgate. 

Sources

1.  From unpublished notes collected by Bill Atkinson in 1979.

2. Spaldington School Log Books, quoted in Bill Atkinson's notes.

3. Info kindly submitted by Elaine Home.