A history of schooling for Aston pupils
ASTON'S first school is thought to have been in the porch of Aston Church in the 17th and early 18th centuries.
The rector of Aston was paid 1-a-year to teach six poor boys to read and write, and they were taught the catechism and brought to church every Sunday, and on Holy Days.
The first Aston school was founded in 1743 by Dr Lockier who was rector of Aston from 1731 to 1740. It is now called The William Layne Reading Room on Aughton Lane.
And the first recorded teacher at the school was Samuel Craven. He was appointed in 1784 at an annual salary of 8, and lived in the school house next door to the school.
He taught there for 34 years until 1818 and we know he supplemented his salary by checking the accounts of the various parish officers.
He was followed by William Carver who was paid 7.10s at Martinmas and Whitsuntide to teach 15 poor children. He taught at the school for 33 years.
In 1866 a National School was built on the corner of Lodge Lane and Worksop Road because the Reading Room was no longer big enough for the increasing population in Aston.
It was built on Glebe Land and furnished to accommodate 100 children.
An adjoining house was also built for the headmaster, still known as Glebe House. Frederick Carrick was appointed as headmaster and taught the older children. His wife taught the infants in the Reading Room.
The National School became a Board School in 1875 and records show there were 190 children with Mr Lishman, schoolmaster, Mrs Lishman, sewing mistress and a monitor.
The girls were taught in the Reading Room with one teacher for over 100 children.
The Reading Room was closed as a school in 1890, and infants and juniors continued at the Board School until 1963 when a new school was built on Lodge Lane – the present Aston Lodge Primary School.
In the 1930s and 1940s, old scholars of the Board School will remember playing on the field adjoining the school.
They had to pay one penny to play in the field at play times – non-payers had to watch from the playground.
It was used for games, Maypole dancing, sports days and May Queen days. When the old school was demolished, the Church of England School was built on the playing field.
by Ann Key, Aston-cum-Aughton History Group
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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