Schools and Colleges of the Dittons

From Dittopedia

Long Ditton

The new school at Rushett after its completion in 1873

The old Schoolhouse which stood at the rear of Nos. 76 and 78 Ditton Hill Road, where pupils were taught for a penny a week.

Long Ditton School on Rushett Road

The badge of St Mary's School

Class Two of Long Ditton School around 1906

Until 1893, boys and girls were taught separately at Long Ditton School.

In 1896, the school in Rushett Road was enlarged.

Thames Ditton

The Infants School in Church Walk, between 1900 and 1905

A school for girls in Thames Ditton was started in 1812 or earlier (i.e. before the end of the Napoleonic Wars), thanks to wealthy people such as Baroness de Ross. Some form of National School for girls operated from September 1812, and boys were taught from 1818. At least 60 girls were being educated in 1816-17, some coming from Molesey and Tolworth. ^[1]

Thames Ditton School c. 1890

In the 1840s there was a National School housed near St Nicholas Churchyard. In 1860, the Rev EH Rogers laid the first stone of the schools at the end of Church Walk where generations of Thames Ditton children were educated. It was expanded in 1877. ^[2]

The school, in Church Walk, was built by the Anglican National Society and is now converted into cottages. The school records are still extant and give a vivid picture of life in the mid-19th century. The villagers were poor; death and illness were frequent visitors:

• 'School closed till next Monday, the Rev EH Rogers thinking it advisable on account of so many being ill today.'
• 'Heard of the death of Mary Welch, who was at school last week and only ill 5 days. Scarlet fever.' ^[3]

References

• 1. Wikipedia
• 2. Burchett, P. 1984. A Historical Sketch of THAMES DITTON. Surrey: Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association. ISBN 0-904-81120-4.
• 3. John Lyon