Part 20

ST. JOHN'S, Usk Road. Boys 1st, 2nd, and 3rd classes, 4d. per week, the rest 3d. Girls 1st class 3d., the rest 2d. Infants 2d. per week.

ST. SAVIOUR'S INFANT. Infants 2d. Girls 3d. over 10 years of age 4d. per week.

CHRIST CHURCH NATIONAL SCHOOLS, Grove Road, Falcon Lane, were erected from designs of Mr. C. E. Robins, selected in competition, and were built by Messrs. Lathey Brothers at a cost of £3,000. Accommodation is given for 200 boys, 200 girls and about the same number of infants. There are two residences, one for the Master and the other for the Mistress. The buildings form a picturesque group facing the roads on three sides with intermediate play-grounds for each sex. Mr. Robins was also the Architect for the British Schools at Wandsworth and other Educational Buildings in the Parish, as the Walter St. John's Upper Schools and the extension of the Training College, the Chapel of which was decorated by him some seven years since. The office of E. C. Robins, F.R.I.B.A., etc., is No. 14, John Street, Adelphi.

ST. GEORGE'S NATIONAL SCHOOLS, built in 1857 from designs furnished by Joseph Peacock, Architect, Bloomsbury Square. Cost about £4,500 including a Parliamentary Grant of £1,500. The Schools were enlarged in 1870. The Infant Schools were established in 1826. The following text of Scripture is engraved on a stone outside the buildings.

"From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."--_II. Timothy iii._ 15.

Boys and Girls 4d. per week for one in a family, 6d. for two brothers or sisters, and 7d. for three in a family, Infants 2d.

Erected outside St. Mary's Schools, Green Lane, is a tablet bearing the following inscription:--"National Schools for Girls and Infants. These buildings were erected by Miss Champion on land granted by Earl Spencer, and opened April 10th, 1850, for the education of the children of the poor on Scriptural principles." This tablet is placed by order of the Parishioners in Vestry assembled in Grateful Remembrance of her Munificent Charities to the Parish of Battersea.--Rev. J. S. Jenkinson, M.A., _Vicar_. W. H. Wilson, John Hunt, _Churchwardens_, 1855.

Within the Parish of Battersea there were in the year 1879, Fourteen Voluntary Schools, viz.:-- SIR WALTER ST. JOHN'S Accommodation. Up-stairs Middle-class for Boys. Terms, 15s. to 25s. per quarter. Ditto Ground-floor Public Elementary School for Boys. Payments, 6d. and 9d. per week. Head Master, Mr. Taylor; Assistants, Mr. Jones, B.A., Mr. E. Mills, Mr. Oliver, and Mr. Blackman. 489

ST. MARY'S, Green Lane. Girls; Mistress, Miss Keene. Infants' Governess; Miss Paul. Boys: Master, Mr. T. Ryder. Fees, Boys and Girls 4d. a week, of which at the year's end 2d. a week will be returned to all who have attended more than 250 times. Infants 3d. a week, of which 1d. a week will be returned to regular attendants at the year's end. 606

CHRIST CHURCH, Grove Road. Master, Mr. Weston. Mistress, Miss Paton. Infants, Miss Kemp. 590

ST. JOHN'S, Usk Road. Head Master, Mr. Henry Smith. Mistress, Miss Hook. Infants' Governess, Mrs. Hughes. 658

ST. PETER'S, Plough Lane. Head Master W. F. Normon. Assistant, W. Beasley. 180

ST. MARK'S, Battersea Rise. Infant Schools, Miss E. Townsend. 4d. per week. 99

ST. GEORGE'S, New Road. Head Master, Mr. John Douthwaite. Mistress, Miss Salter. Infants' Governess, Miss Holding. 609

ST. GEORGE'S Girls and Infants' Schools, Ponton Road, Nine Elms. Mistress, Miss B. Smith. Infants' Governess, Miss A. E. Basnett. 184

ST. SAVIOUR'S, Orkney Street. Mistress, Miss Merrett. 201

WESLEYAN MODEL, High Street. 557

ST. MICHAEL'S, Bolingbroke Grove, (mixed). Mistress, Mrs. M. Watson. 3d. per week. 152

GROVE BOYS' BRITISH, York Road, Established 1799, Enlarged 1840. Master, Mr. James Hammond. 196

GIRLS' BRITISH, Plough Lane. Mistress, Miss Mansell. Assistant, Miss Willett. 297

ST. JOSEPH AND ST. MARY, Battersea Park Road. 466

Total 5284

In 1879 there were Nine Board Schools in Battersea:--[1]

Name of Builder. When Opened. Boys' Master. Girls' Infants' School. Mistress. Mistress.

Bolingbroke Mr. Spinks, Dec. 1, 1873 Mr. Pink. Miss Mrs. Road. Clapham Deacon. Pink. Junction.

Battersea Mr. Sheppard, April 14, 1874 Mr. Stokes. Mrs. Cox. Mrs. Park. Bermondsey. Parker.

Winstanley Jan. 6, 1874 Mr. Vince. Miss Gale. Miss Road. Blackburn.

Sleaford William Higgs, Aug. 10, 1874 Mr. Wheaton. Miss Pook. Miss Street. South Lambeth. Browett.

Gideon Wall, Bros., May 16, 1876 Mr. Lee. Miss Dunn. Mrs. Road. Kentish Town. Pyle.

Mantua Sept. 1876 Mr. Mansell. Miss Miss Street. Spalding. Spalding.

Holden Feb. 1877 Mr. Morris. Miss Miss Street. Macleod. Marshall.

Tennyson Mr. Tyerman. Feb. 1877 Mr. Philips. Miss Davis. Mrs. Road. Lower.

Belleville Mr. Thompson, Aug. 13, 1877 Mr. Barter. Mrs. Mrs. Road. Camberwell Christopher. Watson. Green

N.B.--There are Sunday Schools connected with the different places of Worship some of which are held in Board Schools.

LAMBETH DIVISION LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.--Accommodation Area and Cost of New Permanent Schools.

Name of School. Children Area Cost of Cost of Accommodation. sq. feet. Site. Building.

Sleaford Street 1,055 23,000 £2543 1s. 4d. £8399 19s. 3d.

Tennyson Road 837 28,000 £2376 18s. 6d. £7590 9s. 1d.

Gideon Road 776 19,700 £3404 18s. 3d. £9921 7s. 5d.

Holden Street 1,101 26,887 £3074 14s. 1d. £10305 1s. 7d.

Battersea Park 1,334 32,670 £2378 5s. 5d. £7442 12s. 9d.

Bolingbroke Road 792 54,426 £768 5s. 5d. £5980 15s. 10d.

Mantua Street 1,105 32,670 £2334 5s. 4d. £11337 1s. 1d.

Winstanley Road 1,127 17,792 £3152 5s. 5d. £7948 4s. 7d.

Belleville Road 828 £1661 6s. 2d. £10165 19s. 11d.

8,955

[Footnote 1: Since the First Edition of this Work was published, Tennyson Road School has been enlarged in order to accommodate 400 Scholars. Landseer Street Board School is held in the large room under the Chapel and accommodates 200 boys. J. R. Ayris, Head Master. Ponton Road Board School, Nine Elms, opened for girls 9th June, 1879, and for boys August 18th, the same year, has accommodation for 350, Master, Mr. Chase. Mistress, Miss Nutcher. On the South side of Battersea Park Road, between Lockington Road and Havelock Terrace a large Board School has been built to hold about 1,400 children. Christ Church Schools, Falcon Grove, have passed for the present into the hands of the School Board for London. It is in contemplation to erect four more Board Schools in Battersea.]

The first building erected for the London School Board, situated in one of the most densely crowded localities of the East-end, was opened in July, 1873, and since that time no fewer than 152 large Schools have been completed with a total accommodation for about 182,000 children, and an average accommodation for 872 children each. In addition to these, between 30 and 40 schools are now in course of erection, and about 50 other schools have been determined upon, thus the Board is most active in providing for the educational requirements of the Metropolis. Mr. E. R. Robson, F.R.I.B.A., is the Architect of this Board.

The Board School in Winstanley Road accommodates about 1130 children, the site is the shape of a rhomboid, and the School has been skilfully planned to make the most of it.

Gideon Road Board Schools, the boys and girls' departments are built upon arches to form covered play-grounds underneath. As the site contains sufficient area, the infants' department has been erected as a separate building.

The Board Schools are elaborately fitted up. Books, slates, pencils, etc., for the scholars are provided. The terms for tuition at the Board Schools in Battersea are:--Bolingbroke Road, boys, girls, and infants 2d. each. Battersea Park, Mantua Street, Winstanley Road, Tennyson Road, and Sleaford Street, boys and girls 3d. each, infants 2d. Gideon Road and Holden Street on the Shaftesbury Park Estate, boys and girls 4d. each, infants 3d. each.

School Board Visitors in Battersea:--Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Myland, Mr. Fane, Mr. Chamings and Miss Sydney.

London Ratepayers' School Board Association Established 8th October, 1870.

London or Metropolitan School Board elected 29th Nov., 1870.

Regulations for School Boards issued 21st December, 1870. First election of Metropolitan School Board (Lord Lawrence, Chairman). Arrangements for erecting or adapting buildings for New School Board, December, 1871.

London School Board Education Scheme proposed 23rd June, 1871.

The London School Board occupied their new buildings on Victoria Embankment, 30th September, 1874.

Second Metropolitan School Board elected; religious party strongest. Sir Charles Reed, M.P., Chairman, November, 1878.

Sir Charles Reed, Chairman of the School Board for London, died March 25, 1881. Was interred at Abney Park Cemetery, Wednesday, March 30, 1881.

Fourth Metropolitan School Board elected, 1879.

E. N. Buxton, Esq., Chairman of the London School Board.

LONDON SCHOOL BOARD, LAMBETH DIVISION.[1] MISS HEN. MULLER, T. E. HELLER, ESQ., CHAS. R. WHITE, ESQ., REV. G. M. MURPHY, JAMES STIFF, ESQ., STANLEY KEMP-WELSH, ESQ.

[Footnote 1: The Division of Lambeth is thus defined: The Division of Lambeth shall include the Parliamentary Borough of Lambeth, all the parts of the Parishes of Lambeth and Camberwell outside the Boundary of the said Borough and the Wandsworth District, as described in Schedule B. and Part I. of the Metropolitan Local Management Act, 1855, (that is to say) the Parishes of Clapham, Tooting Graveney, Streatham, St. Mary, Battersea, (excluding Penge), Wandsworth, and Putney, (including) Roehampton. There are 63 Board Schools in the whole of the Lambeth Division for the present year (1879), and 45,000 children on the rolls.]

The Elementary Education Act of 1870 aims at the compulsory supply of school accommodation in those districts in which there is a deficiency. The general survey under the Education Act of the School provision of every Parish in England did not commence till the 1st of May, 1871.

By virtue of the Elementary Education Act, 1876, and of the Bye-Laws of the School Board for London, the following will be, on and after the 1st January next, the state of the law as regards children, their parents and employers within the Metropolis.

I.--REGULATIONS AFFECTING PARENT AND CHILD. The term "parent" includes guardian, and every person who is liable to maintain, or has the actual custody of the child. The parent of every child between the ages of 5 and 14 must cause such child to receive efficient elementary instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic.[1] A.--By the Bye-Laws of the School Board, which continue in force, the parent of every child between the ages of 5 and 13 must cause such child to attend an efficient School during the whole time for which the School is open. The following cases are excepted:--(_a_) where a child is receiving efficient instruction in some other manner. (_b_) where a child is not less than 10 years of age has received a certificate that he has passed the 5th Standard of the Code of 1871: in which case he is wholly exempt from attendance at School. (_c_) where a child of not less than 10 years of age has obtained a certificate that he is beneficially and necessarily at work: in which case he is exempt from the obligation to attend School more than 10 hours a week. (_d_) where the child cannot attend School through sickness or other unavoidable cause. If a parent commits a breach of the Bye-Laws he may be summoned before a magistrate, and fined 5s.; and the child may be ordered to attend School. B.--By the Act of 1876, if either--(1) the parent of a child above the age of five years who is prohibited from being taken into full-time employment, habitually and without reasonable excuse, neglects to provide efficient elementary instruction for his child; or, (2) a child is found habitually wandering, or not under proper control, or in the company of rogues, vagabonds, disorderly persons, or reputed criminals; the parent may be summoned before a magistrate, and the child may be ordered to attend School. If the attendance order be not complied with, the parent, if in fault, may be fined 5s.; and in cases of continued non-compliance, the fine may be repeated at intervals not less than a fortnight. The child may also, under certain circumstances, be sent to a certified day industrial School, there to be detained during certain hours each day for a stated period; or to an ordinary certified industrial School, there to be wholly detained for a stated period, which, however, must not extend beyond the time when the child will reach the age of 16 years. In either case, the parent may be made to contribute to the maintenance, of the child. II.--REGULATIONS AFFECTING EMPLOYER AND CHILD. The term "employer" includes a "parent" who employs his child by way of trade or for the purposes of gain. A.--No person may employ, in the year 1877, any child who is under the age of nine years; or in subsequent years, any child who is under the age of 10 years. B.--No person may employ a child within certain limits of age, unless the child shall have obtained either a certificate of proficiency that he has reached the fourth Standard of the Code of 1876; or a certificate that he has previously made 250 attendances at least, in not more than two Schools, during each year for a certain number of years, whether consecutive or not, as follows:--

Unless they shall have obtained a Certificate.

Age of Children, Either of Or; of who may not be Proficiency, previous due employed. according to the Attendance undermentioned for the Standard. undermentioned number of years.

In 1877 Children between 9 and Fourth Two 12, with the exception Standard of of those who were 11 1876 before the 1st January, 1877

1878 Children between 10 and Ditto. Two 13, with the exception of those who were 11 before the 1st January, 1877

1879 Children between 10 and Ditto. Three 14, with the exception of those who were 11 before the 1st January, 1877

1880 Children between 10 and Ditto. Four 14

1881* Children between 10 and Ditto. Five 14

* and subsequent years

The penalty incurred by an employer who acts in contravention of the above provisions is a sum not exceeding 40s. But no penalty will be incurred by the employer (_a_) if the child was lawfully employed on the 15th August, 1876. (_b_) If the child obtains efficient instruction by attendance at School for full time or in some other equally efficient manner. (_c_) If the employment be during a specified time allowed by the School Board for purposes of husbandry, &c. and if the child be over eight years of age and be so employed. (_d_) If the child be employed and be attending School in accordance with the provisions of the Factory Acts, or of the Bye-Laws of the School Board. (_e_) If the employer be _bona fide_ deceived as to the age of the child or as to his having obtained a certificate; or if some agent, without the knowledge of the employer, shall have employed the child--in which latter case the agent will be liable to the penalty. Although the employer be exempt from penalty, when the child is lawfully employed under the above regulations, the parent will still be liable for any breach of the Bye-Laws, where the latter are more stringent. III.--REGULATIONS AS TO THE PAYMENT OR REMISSION OF FEES. If a parent is unable, from poverty, to pay the School fee of his child, he may apply either to the Guardians of the Poor for the Parish where he lives, or to the School Board. The Guardians, if satisfied of the poverty of the parent, must pay the school fee, not exceeding 3d. a week, of the child, in any Public Elementary School which the parent may select. If the parent select a Board School, the School Board, on his application, may, if they think fit, remit the school fee. The payment or remission of the school fee will not subject the parent to any disability. IV.--FREE INSTRUCTION. Subject to conditions to be made by an order of the Education Department, a child under 11 years of age who obtains a certificate that he has attended a Public Elementary School 350 times a year, for two, three, four or five years according to circumstances, and, also, that he has attained a Standard (to be fixed by the Department) in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, will be entitled to have his school fees paid for him by the Education Department at a public Elementary School for three years more.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD.

15_th November_, 1876.

[Footnote 1: All Elementary Schools in the receipt of Government Grants are annually examined by H.M. Inspector of Schools, and a report of their condition forwarded to the Education Department. Board Schools are further visited and reported on by an Inspector specially employed by the Board itself for that purpose.]

In 1879 there were 63 Board Schools in the whole of the Lambeth Division and 45,000 children on the rolls.

In Battersea there are 68 taverns for the sale of spirits, etc., and 84 beer-houses, making a total of 152 public-houses. There are also 29 coffee-shops.

A COFFEE PALACE IN OLD BATTERSEA.--On Saturday afternoon, Dec. 13, 1879, a coffee palace, belonging to the Coffee Taverns Company, Limited, was opened at Lombard Market, York-road, Battersea. This is the 22nd tavern of the kind opened by the Company, and carried on, in regard to the business, on the same principle as others. A well furnished room is provided for public meetings and other gatherings.

LATCHMERE GROVE, which is almost encircled with Railway embankments, was noted for its piggeries. The lane once known as "Pig Hill," leading from Battersea Fields to Lavender Hill, is now a wide open road and forms the west boundary of the Shaftesbury Park Estate.

Somewhere near the foot of "Pig Hill" were two places called in olden time "_Plague Spots_" where many bodies of persons who had died of the Plague were buried.

THE SHAFTESBURY PARK ESTATE[1] formerly the site of Poupart's Market Ground, covers an area of 42 acres, contains about 1100 houses and 8000 inhabitants. The houses are built on the most improved sanitary principles, they are prettily and artistically constructed, having small gardens back and front; on either side of the streets are rows of lime and plane trees which in the course of a few years will give the "Work peoples' Town," a beautiful and pleasant aspect. The Houses are built in four classes, containing 5, 6, 7, and 8 rooms respectively, (the latter including a bath room), and the weekly rental (at first was) 6/6, 7/6, and 8/-, and the best class £26 and £30 per year, which sums, except the best class, includes rates and taxes, but if the tenant is buying the house under the repayment table, the rates, taxes, and ground rent have to be paid by him in addition to the purchase money.[2] The purchasing prices of the houses are £170, £210, £260, £310, and £360; and they are leased for a term of 99 years subject to annual ground rent of £3 10s., £4 4s., and £4 10s. according to the class of house. Each dwelling is thoroughly ventilated by means of improved ventilating valves, which are fixed to every room and connected with air shafts in all the external walls and the same are applied beneath the floors, the houses have concrete foundations and are considered dry and healthy. [3]It is intended to convert the premises used as the Estate Agency Office into a Club house, equal in accommodation to any at the West End, with Library, reading, smoking, and billiard rooms; a small hall to hold about 350 is being built which among other things is intended to be let to benefit clubs and such like societies. It is suggested that the present temporary hall be converted into Swimming and Washing Baths. Brassey Square a space about one and a quarter acres, the Estate Company are going to make into a garden like that on the Thames Embankment, in which seats are to be placed and it is intended to have a band to play there in summer months. Beside Co-operative Stores, there is a Social Review connected with the Estate, and a Newspaper has been started called "The South Western Advertiser."[4] The London Board School on the estate is situated in Holden Street. Between houses Nos. 21-23 in the Grayshott Road a stone may be seen bearing the following inscription "Healthy homes the first condition of Social progress." This stone was laid by the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftesbury, K.G., for the Artizans, Labourers and General Dwellings Company, Limited, on the 3rd of August, 1872. R. Austin, Architect.

[Footnote 1: The Artizans Labourers and General Dwellings Company (Limited). Capital £1,000,000 in 100,000 shares of £10 each (paid up capital, £583,000). Chief Office: 34, Great George Street, Westminster, S.W. Office hours:--10 till 5 Saturdays 10 till 1. Estate Offices 221 Eversleigh Road, Shaftesbury Park, S.W. 35, A Street, Queen's Park. W.

DIRECTORS.--The Hon. Evelyn Ashley, M.P., Chairman, H. R. Droop, Esq., R. E. Farrant, Esq., John Kempster, Esq., Rev. H. V. Le Bas, F. D. Mocatta, Esq., Samuel Morley, Esq. M.P., Ernest Noel, Esq. M.P., John Peace, Esq., W. H. Stone, Esq. Bankers.--The London and Westminster Bank, Lothbury, E.C. Solicitors.--Messrs. Ashurst, Morris, Crisp and Co., 6, Old Jewry, E.C., Manager J. V. Sigvald Muller, Esq. Secretary.--Samuel E. Platt.

The Company was established for the erection of improved dwellings near to the great centres of industry to carry out the objects of the Company in London, large estates have been secured near Clapham Junction and the Harrow Road, that near Clapham Junction called Shaftesbury Park.]

[Footnote 2: The present weekly rental, which includes rates and taxes, except in the case of the first-class Houses is as follows:--An ordinary fourth class House 7/6 third class 8/6 second class 10/- first class 10/- and 11/-. The shops, lower houses, those with larger gardens than ordinary, and some other exceptional houses are subject to special arrangements both as to Rental and purchase.]