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The actual file on Ash School in the National
Society starts in 1865 with the startling fact that on January
16th 1865 the boys’ free school and the girls’ free school
are to be united. Whether this was for organisation only, or
whether they actually bought the two sexes together under the
same roof is not known. It is known, however, that the girls’
school, which occupied the present site of the village school
was mixed by 1878, when a master is known to be in charge again.
It could be that it was mixed as early as 1865. The school at
Berry’s Maple was still in existence, though nothing more is
heard about the Dame School at Mann’s Farm. However there is
much correspondence between the Rev. Salway, Rector of Ash and
Fawkham, and the |
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National Society, on the question of grants
to enable the school to be extended by adding to the
girls’ room during 1865, and to get the school legally
secured. This entails the inclusion of a conveyance under the
law of the land, to allow the building of any additions to take
place. But Mr. Lambarde, patron of the village, would not allow
this so that the plans to enlarge the school to take the
existing two schools was temporarily defeated. Mr. Lambarde
seems to have changed his mind very soon, for by April the
enlargement is under way at a cost of £24, which by May had
risen to £25. The school could only raise some £19, even
though there was a grant promised from the Gravesend Church
Union. Meanwhile the improvements |