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37 Chatham Avenue,
Hayes,
Nr. Bromley,
Kent.
June 9th 1964
Dear Mr. Muller,
I am writing on behalf of my father in reply to your letter for
which he thanks you very much. He has reminisced over his
childhood, and given me the following facts to pass on to you
– Quote:- "My father was born in1851 and later attended
the boy’s school at Berry’s Maple, the master at that time
being a Mr. Field, of the Haven. "The girls attended the
present school at Ash which, at that time was a lower building
than it is now, and had a thatched roof. (It can still be seen
where the roof was extended -see fig. No.8). Later he attended
private school which was in the building that is now the Post
Office (see fig. No.3), and was for boys only. It |
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was under the jurisdiction of a certain
Mr. Elcombe, who was clerk to the Church. "Incidentally,
his grave can be found just inside the church gates, on the left
marked by a round iron gravestone. (This has now disappeared.
NJM). "The first schoolmaster’s name I can remember was a
Mr. Tomlinson. He was the master at Ash before I was born, which
was in 1886. "He was followed by Mr. Meyers, who became my
own headmaster when I started school in 1891. It had been the
custom to pay 3d. a week for school, and it was abolished only a
week after I started school. "There were at that time about
80 – 100 mixed pupils and they came from Stansted, Idley,
Ridley, Fawkham Green and Hodsoll Street as well as Ash, of
course. "Many had to walk quite a few miles to school each
day as you will appreciate." Unquote.
I do hope this letter will be of some assistance to you.
Yours Sincerely J.A. Trend (signed) For J. Rogers. |