This is the school class of 1892. It was first published by in the Women’s institute history of Chewton Mendip in 1954. This copy has been supplied by Ken Church.This page also includes class photos for 1928 and most of the 1930s supplied by Chewton Mendip school. Some of the the survivors of the class of 1935 were tracked down some time ago and picture of that reunion is also published. It is assumed that the bearded Mr Gaskin shown in the picture was the new head master. |
The people shown in the back row from left to right are as follows. |
The first boy was just called Ham’. Charles Ham initially of The Street, then of Chewton Hill, had several children at the school. He was living in ‘the street’ when Kate was born on 9/5/1879 but living at Chewton Hill when the rest of his children were born. , |
George Church, the son of Walter Church of Honewell was born 16/8/1883. |
Will Ham. He has not been identified, perhaps the first name was wrong. John Ham was born on 21/10/1882. Chaffie Ham was born 1/4/1886. |
Albert Ham was born 33/11/1884 . |
Thom Green lived in the old Waldergrave Arms. |
Seward Heal. Seward Heal was a larger than life character who appears in several photographs. He was probably the person who made the original identification of the people in the photograph but he would have been trying to remember details from over 60 years previously. No wonder he mad some mistakes. |
Middle row. |
Miss Butler. It is assumed she was a teacher but no further information has been discovered about her yet. |
S Middle. This was probably Stanly Middle. |
W Dowling. He was probably William, the son of another William Dowling. The relationship between him and the W Dowling buried in Chewton Mendip churchyard has yet to be determined. |
J Young. He may have been John Henry Young who served in World War One and is buried in Chewton Mendip churchyard. |
Mr Gaskin. It is believed he was the ‘new’ headmaster. |
T Stickland. He may have been Thomas Stickland who is buried in Chewton Mendip churchyard. |
Ernest Church, the son of James Church of Chew Hill was born 21/12/1875 and admitted to school in 1879. |
? Church. It is not suurprising that Seward forgot his first name, Church was a common name at the time. His father may have been James Church, the father of Maurice and Ken’s grandfather, who lived in The Folly, Herbert Church who lived at Bathway or Joseph Church who lived in Red Quarr. |
E Middle. This was probably Edgar Middle. John Middle of ‘Lime Kiln’ was described as his grandfather. |
Mrs Gaskin. She was probably the wife of Mr Gaskin. |
Front Row |
M Church. This was probably Maurice Church, Ken’s father who is seen in the old Post Offce photograph and was later in the Ancient Order of Foresters. |
Sartin. No name like ‘Sartin’ has yet been identifed. |
S Symes. This was probably Sydney Symes. His father ws probably Frank Symes who was bought up in Griggs Pit and then moved to Ivy cottage. |
Sartin. As above. |
W Symes. This was probably William, the brother of Sydney. |
Gilbert Rendall. His father was probably William Rendell of Dudwell. |