Holystone School – E A Robinson
Submitted by: Sally Brewis - 22nd November 2021
70 children attended the school and were taught in one small room. The fee paid was 4 shillings per quarter, per child. The state grant was an improvement but depended on the children’s knowledge when inspected.
Mr Newton was schoolmaster for 40 years. Reading, writing and arithmetic were the only subjects taught. The children came from Burradon, Newton, Herdlaw, Hedgehope Craig and Harehaugh. This was before Billsmoor and Netherton schools were built. Some had to walk, some had a pony. Each child carried food known as a “pieve” and a tin bottle containing tea. The tin bottles were placed round the fire to warm. Some had a bottle of milk.
The desks were long and seated seven. There were three small desks for infants. Each child has a slate and slate pencil for writing and arithmetic, then followed paper and lead pencil, later pen and ink. Their ages ranged from 5 – 14 years. As time went by more subjects were introduced. Sir John Buchanan Riddell of Hepple Whitefield gave two books each year to be presented to the boy and girl who had made most progress throughout the year. He always came to present them. The Potts Charity also gave books. Exams were hard. The scripture exam included both the Old and New Testaments and Catechism.
During the winter children who walked 3 – 4 miles were allowed to begin at 10.00am. The teacher gave them a mug of coffee, and they left at 3.00pm to enable them to reach home before dark. In winter, the teacher sledged with the children. Clogs were worn with “loags” – stocking legs knitted from Otterburn Mill yarn, (known to-day as leg-warmers) which kept snow from getting into the clogs. Feet were always warm.
The boys were good anglers – both salmon and trout, not always caught with a rod. Hazel stick and cleek were often used.
At Easter dyed pace eggs were collected from the villages and farms. There was great fun bowling them down a slope.
Children walking to school noticed everything, wild flowers, wild fruits, crab apples, plums, damsons, beans, blackberries, blae berries, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, sloe berries, hazelnuts, chestnuts, hips, pears and haws.
Much time was spent in looking for birds’ nests. In June the farmers made a dam in the Holystone burn to wash their sheep. Afterwards they called at the Salmon Inn for a drink. The children herded their flocks and were given a lemon dash.
Summers were mostly dry and hot. Sandshoes were worn and some were bare-foot. Girls wore cotton frocks and pinnies, straw hats or clouty bonnets. Boys wore caps. All played together down by the church.
A shop sold sweets – a full packet for a penny. The Salmon Inn sold cherry cider, lime juice and lemonade at 3d a bottle. These were supplied by Mr Thompson of Wellstrand, Rothbury – he had a wagon drawn by a white horse. Mr and Mrs A.R.G. Thompson of Lanternside always gave a huge box of sweets. Each child was given 2 sweets a day.
War came bringing many changes. There were so many evacuees in the area that half of the numbers attended in the morning, the other half in the afternoon. Two boys, rescued from the Spanish Civil War by Dr. Ann Clark of Sharperton attended the school.
One teacher was Mrs Keen. From humble beginnings there emerged many trades and professions – doctors, engineers, nurses, Forces, businessmen, farmers, farm-workers, teachers, shepherds, gardeners, postal workers, joiners, stonemasons, shoe-makers, roadmen. Many emigrated to Australia and Canada.
Mrs Howey was the last teacher. With only four children on the register – Frank Rutherford, Kathleen Scott, Gillian Wood and Keith Wood – the school closed 23rd July 1965.
