Founding of the Church School

This page reproduces some of the correspondence leading up to the opening of Deopham’s first school. There is a summary of the highlights of this correspondence here. There are also footnotes indicating the significance of some comments in these documents.

1. August 28th 1848
2. September 6th 1848
3. September 23rd 1848
4. January 4th 1849
5. February 1st 1849
6. February 3rd 1849
7. April 26th 1849
8. January 25th 1850
9. February 8th 1850
10. December 3rd 1850
11. December 10th 1850
12. December 13th 1850
13. December 18th 1850
14. December 23rd 1850
15. January 28th 1851
16. February 13th 1851
17. February 17th 1851
18. February 18th 1851
19. February 24th 1851
20. March 25th 1851
21. March 28th 1851
22. March 30th 1851
23. April 2nd 1851
24. May 24th 1851
25. May 16th 1851
26. June 25th 1851 – Deed of Conveyance
27. June 30th 1851
    1. Comments on the Deed of Transfer of School Land
28. July 1st 1851
29. July 2nd 1851
30. September 1851
31. October 2nd 1851
32. October 3rd 1851
33. May 31st 1852
34. Footnotes
35. Bibliography
36. Navigation

August 28th 1848

In August 1848, the Bishop of Norwich, Edward Stanley, wrote to the Secretary to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury as follows¹:-

The original of this letter can be seen here.

September 6th 1848

In response to a reply from Canterbury, the bishop of Norwich wrote to D. Finch Esq³:

Palace Norwich
Sept 6, 48

Sir,
You had better communicate with the Rev H. Spencer Curate of Deopham (Post town of which is Wymondham Norfolk) who will be able to afford you every information. The incumbent the Rev John Adam⁴ never having resided there, though I believe he has held it as long as Edingthorpe another living about 30 miles distant that is nearly 60 years, never to my knowledge having exerted himself very zealously for the one or the other and now from age incapacitated. I direct Him to Canterbury as I cannot make out your direction as soon as [he] will.

I remain
Yours Faithfully
E Norwich

September 23rd 1848

As requested by the Bishop of Norwich, the curate of Deopham, the Rev. Henry Spencer, replied⁵ to D. Finch Esq^re:

Deopham
Sept 23rd
1848

Sir,
The Bishop of Norwich has transmitted to me (as Curate of this Parish) your letter to his Lordship, in which you desire further information respecting the object we have in view. We are very anxious that a School House and Residence for Teacher be erected. The Dean & Chapter of Canterbury are the Patrons of the Living. And theirs are the Great Tithes and also a Farm adjoining the Church, called Church Farm, about 75 Acres. In one of the fields adjoining the Churchyard I ask the Dean & Chapter to give to this Parish a Grant of Land sufficient for a Schoolhouse to be built upon. The Vicar has promised to give 45£ towards the expenses and there are also other contributions amounting to about 15£ more. A School is greatly needed in the Parish. We have at present no schoolroom at all. There are nearly 600⁶ inhabitants. Lord Wodehouse has a small proportion of Land in Deopham and upon my application to him, He has promised 10£ towards a School House. Earnestly hoping that this our reasonable request will be favourably received, and cordially responded to by the Dean & Chapter of Canterbury.

I remain
yours sincerely
Henry Spencer
Curate of Deopham
Post Town Attleboro
Norfolk

January 4th 1849

Another letter sent by the curate, Henry Spencer, the following year⁷ to Daniel Finch Esq^re, Precincts Canterbury, contains a number of inconsistencies, one of which being that he claims not to have had contact with the vicar but all the same had received £45 from the vicar towards the cost of building the school.

Deopham
Post Town of Attleborough
Norfolk
Jan^y 4th 1849

Sir,
I was very glad to hear from you again respecting a site for a school. I have seen Mr Millard (the Lessees Agent) but he does not appear to take any interest in the matter. He said that as the Expiration of their Lease (or the time of renewal) was so near, the Dean & Chapter would soon have it in their power to do as they pleased about it. You enquire who is the present Incumbent of Deopham. Perhaps you will be surprised when I tell you that though I have been Curate here four years I have never seen him or received a letter from him. Adams is his name, he lives at Edenthorpe [sic] near North Walsham Norfolk. I cannot at present inform you either when or by whom he was presented to the Living. But I will ascertain & write you word.
If the Dean or any of the Canons should be in this neighborhood I should really take it as a great favour if they, or any one of them, would come to Deopham. If any of them would honour me so far as to come to mine I have a Bed at their service and stable room for Horses. Seeing is believing, and I am fully convinced that if the Parish were visited, something would immediately be done for its improvement by the Dean & Chapter. The Bishop told me when he licensed me to this Curacy that is was the most neglected Parish in his Diocese. I have been trying ever since I came to get a school but hitherto neither the Vicar nor any of the Proprietors or Inhabitants have attempted to afford me any assistance, except that the Lord Wodehouse has promised ten pounds and the Vicar 45 pounds towards the Building [of] a school. All which the Parish seem like to lose entirely for want of a site to build upon. One of the Inhabitants has given fifteen shillings towards the Building. Do pray assist me if you possibly can. Speak to the Dean about it, and be so kind as to write and tell me what he says. The site I wish for abuts on the Dean & Chapter’s land on the north & East on the Wymondham Road to Hackford West. The present Tenant would not object – a quarter of an Acre is all we want. Dr Barrett⁸ of Attleborough tells me the Dean is an old schoolfellow of his. Dr Barrett will help me a little. If I had but the Land I would build at my own risk as we have about sixty pounds promised. Without a Schoolroom I know by past experience that but very little can be done towards the Spiritual instruction and improvement of my Parishioners.

Believe me,
ever yours faithfully
Henry Spencer

February 1st 1849

Mr. Millard, land agent for the lessees, responded⁹ to the Dean & Chapter’s agent Daniel Finch as follows:

Norwich
Feb^y 14 1849

Sir,
Deopham School
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter which I will forward to the Misses Amyas. If the Lessors decide to appropriate this particular spot to the purpose of the School it will not become the Lessees to oppose their views; but more convenient sites might have been selected.

I am your obedient servant
W. J. Millard

February 3rd 1849

A month after writing his letter, the curate had clearly received a very positive response from Canterbury and replied to Daniel Finch with great enthusiasm as follows¹⁰:-

Deopham
February 3rd 1849

Dear Sir,
I am greatly rejoiced at your most welcome intelligence which I have just received. Accept my warmest thanks for your kind advocacy of my case with the Dean & Chapter. No effort on my part shall be wanting to put everything in train with the least possible delay. I had long ago written both to the National Society and also to the Privy Council & have now in my possession favourable answers from both Societies. Only they required from me a copy of the Deed of Conveyance of the Site whereon to build & informed me that no further step could be taken until I could satisfy them on this point. They kindly forwarded to me all necessary Forms & their Printed Regulations, with a plan of their Model Schools. I will on Monday next consult with some of my neighbouring clerical friends whose experience may be valuable to me in making a draught [sic] of my plan and as soon as it is completed I will forward it to you. Since you so kindly encourage me to trouble you further, I shall always feel most grateful to you for assisting me in a matter which I have so long & hitherto so unsuccessfully laboured in.
I shall lose no time in calling upon M^r. Millard and fixing upon the place whereupon to build & I will also call upon the Bishop (though I doubt if his Lordship will be at the Palace after Monday next) and ask for his advice & cooperation in drawing the plan for your inspection & likewise in applying again to the Privy Council & National Society.

Believe me,
ever sincerely yours
Henry Spencer

April 26th 1849

In April, Henry Spencer updated Mr. Finch at Canterbury¹¹ on his progress, and concluded with a punt for the Vicar’s job as and when when it might become available:

Heacham
April 26th 1849

Sir,
As you have so kindly offered me your assistance in drawing out a plan for the Conveyance, Establishment & government of a School in Deopham, I write to inform you that (at length) I have obtained an interview with Mr Millard & he has been to Deopham & expressed his appreciation of the intended erection of a School either at the South East corner of the Church Field, or at the South West corner at the Gravel Pit Close. Either of these sites would do. I should prefer the former. But the present tenant, Mr Robert Clarke, whose lease expires at Michaelmas next is not willing to consent to the building [of] a school at all, especially in the Church Field which is rather better land than the other. The School had better be in connection with the National School Society. The Trustees had better be the Hon & Rev^d William Wodehouse Rector of Hingham & Rural Dean. The Rev C. Beauchamp Cooper Rector of Morley & Rural Dean. The Rev M.B. Darby Incumbent of Wicklewood & Hackford (all the above named Parishes are adjoining Parishes to Deopham) and the Vicar of Deopham the Rev Richard Adams. At every decease of Trustee the survivors must elect another. The Bishop has told me that his Secretary Mr Kitson should draw up the necessary document to be submitted for approval to the Lessee Mr Millard, but on going to Kitson’s office for this Paper, Mr Kitson informed me that I should write to you (as the proper Party to render me that assistance especially as you have so kindly promised to aid me with your valuable advice and cooperation). I was very sorry that so much time had elapsed whilst I had been under the impression that he had prepared the necessary paper for Mr Millard’s signature.
I have had a plan of School & Teacher’s Residence drawn and an Estimate made. £170 is the sum. The School if so built would accommodate between 70 & 80 children. As soon as the Site can be legally secured, I would get the Parishioners to cart the materials for the School. I shall return to Deopham next Saturday & shall anxiously await some further communication from you. If the Dean or any of the Canons will honour Deopham with a visit, I can only repeat what I have already said, that I shall be very happy to see them, my house is at their Service.
The Site in the Church Field is the Best.
I know not whether the Living of Deopham be already promised to any one in the event of Mr Adams’ death. I should be glad to have it, and would do my best to improve the condition of the Parishioners both as to their spiritual & temporal welfare.

Believe me,
ever yours sincerely,
Henry Spencer.

January 25th 1850

The next year, Henry Spencer chased up a response¹² from Canterbury, addressing Mr. Finch again:

Deopham
January 25^th 1850

Sir,
As the time is fast approaching when we wish to begin to build the new School, would you be so kind as to oblige me with your advice as to the necessary steps to be taken for the Legal conveyance of the Quarter of an Acre of Land which you (in the name of the Dean and Chapter) have so kindly promised to the Parish of Deopham. I hoped to have seen one or more of the Chapter over here at Deopham during the past Spring or Summer, but in that expectation have been disappointed.

Hoping for an early reply from you,
I remain
yours sincerely
Henry Spencer
Curate of Deopham, Norfolk

I wrote to you on the 4th of Jan^y 1849 and again in June 1849. I received no answer to either.

February 8th 1850

A further letter to Mr. Finch at Canterbury continues to advance his request to become Vicar of Deopham when the Rev. Richard Adams dies:¹³

Deopham
February 8^th 1850

Dear Sir,
I write to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter (of the 31st ult.) and also to thank you for your prompt compliance with my wishes respecting the School Site.
Might I so far trespass upon your kindness as to ask what you would advise me to do. I am greatly censured by many of my friends for not making application to the Dean and Chapter for this Living after the decease of the present Vicar. Certainly it would be a very desirable thing for me could I obtain it. But what steps would it be best to take in order to attain so desirable an end I really do not know. I can only state to you my wishes upon the subject. Should you be inclined to assist me by pointing out the best course to be pursued, I should be deeply indebted to you. I do not wish to trouble you to write to me on this subject expressly but when you next have occasion to communicate by letter with me regarding the proposed School, a word of Counsel upon this matter would be thankfully received.

I remain
yours faithfully
Henry Spencer

December 3rd 1850

Deopham’s absentee vicar, Rev. Richard Adams, died a few weeks later (March 25th 1850) leaving the curate the Rev. Henry Spencer to find a new job. The new vicar was the Rev. George Turner who quickly picked up the school project. Whereas Curate Spencer had previously said that he had raised £60 locally, Turner now says he cannot raise a “mite”. Turner’s first letter¹⁴ was written on December 3^rd 1850:

December 10th 1850

A week later, on December 10^th, Turner wrote at length¹⁵ to the Dean & Chapter at Canterbury about the terrible state of conditions in Deopham. This letter contains a number of references to burning issues of the day regarding school management in a country with a high proportion of residents that were not Church of England members (in Deopham, the two Methodist chapels were highly significant). The footnotes expand on some of these covert references.

Deopham
nr Attleboro

My dear Sir,
I was relieved from great anxiety by your letter of last week, for I had imagined the Dean & Chapter had made compulsory the “Management clauses”¹⁶ which were shown to me in the draft by Mr Millard. I really have no wish to apply to the Privy Council¹⁷ for aid, nor do I think it necessary; as with a little more assistance (independently from what I expect from the National Society) I shall have funds enough to build the Schools myself. It w^d be really foolish to convey the land to any one in the parish as Co Trustee with the Vicar. There is not a man here on whose Churchmanship you can rely for a month – not one who is qualified by Education or habits to direct or manage, or to assist a Clergyman in managing such an institution¹⁸, & moreover not one who will aid me with a single shilling¹⁹ either to build the schools or support them when built. I must then decline their assistance in all these matters connected with the schools. If the Vicar alone be not sufficient to act as Trustee, then I hope the site will be conveyed to the Vicar & the two neighbouring Clergymen or any one in authority whom the Dean & Chapter may appoint.
At any rate, I hope the conveyance will be made out as soon as possible as I wish to commence the schools early in the Spring.
One favour I have to beg of you, that you will use your influence with the Chapter to get from them some assistance for me, to help on the works I propose. You really cannot imagine the pitiable state of this parish. The poverty is only matched by its ignorance. I much fear that unless we can get a house built by Michaelmas next, we again must be left without a resident Minister, for this house – the only one to be had in the parish – will then be let on lease with its proper farmer. & I really cannot – considering the wretched state of the parish & the smallness of the income – afford to borrow all the money required to build a house. Then there are the schools which I must support yearly … my own purse alone & then there is the Church – a very beautiful building in a most wretched state of decay – I hope therefore the Dean & Chapter will help me in some degree For I really do not see how with the small income I am to pay the Interest to Queen Anne bounty & relieve the poor & sick – alone & unaided.
Hoping to have a favourable answer from you shortly.

I am My dear Sir
Yrs very faithfully
George H. Turner
Dec 10 50

December 13th 1850

Three days later, on December 13^th 1850, Turner wrote²⁰:

Deopham
nr Attleboro’
Dec 13. 50

My dear Sir,
Enclosed I send a form of conveyance which is required to be used if we would unite our Schools with the National Society. By it, it seems the site must be conveyed to the Minister & Church Wardens or to the Minister & some other body. I do not think the Church Wardens are or are likely to be in future fit persons for such Trusteeship & I should therefore much prefer any other. If however the Dean & Chapter differ from me in this point I Willingly submit to them – Only I hope the conveyance will be immediately made out & sent to me, as I wish all preliminary matters to be so settled that I might commence the Building in the Spring. Please to return the form when you have done with it.

Believe me
My dear Sir
Yrs Very sincerely
George H Turner

On the reverse, he has written:

The Society requires a draft of the proposed conveyance according to the form sent.

December 18th 1850

On December 18th 1850, scarcely a week after the last letter, Turner wrote again as follows²¹:

Deopham
Dec 18^th 1850

My dear Sir,
Herewith I return the old draft, with many thanks for the trouble you have taken about the erection of our schools. I enclose a form of Terms of Union with the National Society which will I hope explain the mode in which the Schools are to be conducted. The Vicar must be, I think, the sole manager & I’d much prefer the Inspector to be appointed by the National Society.

I am My dear Sir
yours faithfully
George H. Turner

December 23rd 1850

On December 23^rd, 1850, the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church wrote to Mr. Finch at Canterbury to explain the arrangements for school inspections²²:

Westminster
Dec 23. 1850
Deopham School Case

Sir,
I beg to say in answer to your letter of the 21^st that the Society does not require the clause relating to the Inspection by the Committee of Council to be inserted in the Trust Deed of any School aided by any grant from its funds. I may say however that that Clause is inserted in the draft form of conveyance sent out from this office by way of recommendation because in 1840 the Society & the Committee of Council made a bargain²³ as to the terms on which Government Inspection of Church Schools should be conducted. The Committee of the Society are therefore desirous that so far as their influence extends that bargain should be carried out. But as I have said the insertion of this Clause is no way compulsory – neither on the other hand do the two systems of Inspection necessarily clash with one another.

I am, Sir,
yours faithful servant
John G. Lonsdale
Secretary

January 28th 1851

On January 28^th 1851 the Rev. George Turner wrote²⁴ again to Canterbury repeating the problem of acquiring the plot next to the church and suggesting that he should be allowed to use part of the Glebe Land:-

Deopham
January 28 1851

My Dear Sir,
You must by this time begin to think that our school scheme has dropped to the ground, But the fact is M^r. Millard will not give the required ground for a site – He has offered one spot in “Gravel Pit Close” – certainly the worst both for a teacher’s house & school he could have fixed on but he will not counsel to give a piece of “Church Field” which is I think the only appropriate spot for a school on the Dean & Chapter’s grounds. The part proposed by M^r. Millard I would not accept – were I to build there it is such a lonely dismal place the Mistress, I am sure, would live there alone. The objection M^r. Millard has to giving a part of Church Field is that it would spoil the shape of the Field – so we stand at present. I have now one theory to propose – if it can be done – that the Dean & Chapter will allow me to give me to give up ¼ of an acre of the glebe for the purpose of a school – This is a suggestion of M^r. Millard’s, who did not see why the expense should not fall on the Vicar as well as the Rector – forgetting that the Vicar also finds part £100 – the Rector (himself) nothing. I am afraid some evil? influence is being exercised upon him from the impression that “he was not at all ambitious of seeing a school at Deopham”. I hope however – notwithstanding all the opposition I meet still, that schools will be built very shortly & if a part of the glebe can be given up, all difficulty will be removed. The National Society have voted me £30. Pray let me know as early as possible if my proposition is acceptable.

Believe me My dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully
George H. Turner

February 13th 1851

Mr. William Millard wrote to Daniel Finch at Canterbury on February 13^th 1851²⁵:

Norwich
Feb^y 13 1851

Dear Sir,
Deopham Rectory

My impression of what took place respecting the School at Deopham does not entirely coincide with the representation made to the Dean & Chapter.
Very soon after the renewal of the lease, I was applied to to give up a Scite [sic] for a School. I did not, I confess, think it quite reasonable that the Lessors should require this without any compensation, but my answer was that I would not resist the Dean & Chapter, but I distinctly told the Curate M^r. Spencer that I did very strongly object to the particular spot he had selected and I explained to him the Scite [sic] which I would consent to, with which (as I understood) he was satisfied. I hope & I believe that M^r. Spencer will recollect this conversation if it be put to him. M^r. Spencer left with me the draft of a conveyance but without the blanks being filled up. This I surrendered to the present Vicar who supplied the omissions in his own way without consulting me in the matter, and I have objected (and do object) to signing it. I inclose you a Sketch of the Scite [sic] I offer which is just eighty three yards further Eastward than the Situation claimed by M^r. Turner. It adjoins the same Road & has the same aspect but does not destroy the integrity of the best piece of Land upon the farm.

I am Sir your obedient & faithful Servant
W.S. Millard

(The text in bold was underlined in the original of the letter above.)

February 17th 1851

Turner wrote again²⁶ to Canterbury, this time with a map, on February 17^th. In this letter he disingenuously says that Mr. Millard is offering a site in the remote fields 90 & 95, whereas in fact, as can be seen from Mr. Millard’s letter above, it is part of field 112 that is being offered! He then proposes (tongue in cheek?) to build the school on the “waste land” in front of the farmhouse at Church Farm (Mr. Millard’s home).

Dear Sir,

Enclosed is a small map which will point out the relative situations of the two school sites. No. 114 is the field in which I wish to build in the corner near the junction of the Wymondham to Hackford roads – and No. 95 & 90 is the field in which M^r. Millard offers a site. Nos 376 & 377 are the Glebe Lands & the Church stands on the green spot. There are many poor on the road to Hackford – many on the road to Hingham & many on the road to Attlebro & Ellingham but not one on the road to Wymondham & besides this – the site M^r. Millard offers is near the bottom of a hill – unhealthy I should think – & out of sight of any other houses – & this alone deters me from building there as I should never get a schoolmistress to live alone there. A very good site I have, I believe, in my own power, outside the Church Yard gate, a sort of waste land on the road side, – & I can take 4½ feet inside the hedge that borders the green in front of M^r. Millard’s farm house. If you should be writing to M^r. Millard, it may be as well to mention this as I should think it far more inconvenient for him to have a school so close to the house than to have it in a field some distance off.
My Church Warden saw M^r. Millard on Saturday & he then said something about remuneration for the quarter of an acre – I cannot offer him any as I have scarcely enough money to complete the schools – I only hope he will give the only appropriate site [he] has – & much better pleased I should have been, had he given it without so much grumbling.

My very dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
George H. Turner
Deopham
Feb 17 – 1851
Please to return the map when you have finished with it.

February 18th 1851

The Dean of Canterbury, clearly realising that matters were getting ridiculous, asked the Dean of Norwich, the Rev. George Pellew, to become involved²⁷; he replied to the Dean of Canterbury as follows:

Deanery, Norwich
February 18th 1851

Dear Sir,
I have just been favoured with your letter; and as I am well acquainted with Will Millard who is agent to the Charity Trustees of Norwich, of whom I am one, who is also Brother of a late Minor Canon, and moreover a very respectable man; and as Deopham lies in a direct line between this and a relative’s house which I am shortly to visit, I shall be very happy to undertake the matter myself, & hope to bring it to a prosperous conclusion.
Looking at the two sites on the Plan, one does not see how, if one is desirable, the other can be lonely; as they are very close to each other. However, inspection will quickly make the truth manifest: and I have no doubt of being able to induce Mr Millard to listen to reason. We have dabbled much here with granting of sites, & never find any difficulty. In the corner of a field or other nook sufficient for a school, we make no allowance; and we take it at once and that farmer never complains. Where we take a field, or part of one, for a Parsonage we – the D & C – pay the rent ourselves until the expiration of the 21 years which were current when that land was taken, and into the next lease we grant, we except the land in question. In no case do we admit of delay; and no Lessee has as yet ever ventured to oppose us in such a matter.
I must request, I should add a little delay in this matter: for this week I am occupied; and next week I go to Town & into Kent; & it is not improbable that I may shake hands with you as “sustinens abnormis sapiens” amidst your Boars at St Stephens but within 3 weeks I shall be very happy to attend to that matter. My youngest daughter who is the Musician, says she perfectly comprehends your scheme of charity & fully approves of the idea. I will obtain the opinion of the wise about it.

With kind remembrances to my friends of the Chapter I remain Dear Sir
yours very truly
Geo Pellew

February 24th 1851

Turner wrote²⁸ to Canterbury to say that he was having to wait until the frosts had passed before starting to build; he also mentions the mortgage for the building of his vicarage house:

My dear Sir,
I really feel greatly obliged to you for the trouble you are so kindly taking in the matter of our schools: I only hope you will succeed in getting an appropriate site – we need not hurry matters on for a fortnight or three weeks as we dare not begin to build yet for fear of frost.
I have not yet heard from the Queen Anne’s Bounty Company whether or no they intend to grant me £600 towards building a house – I hope they will not refuse me, & as far as I could learn from the Bishop of Norwich, they will make the grant but they are a long time about it, & all this time we are lessening the chances of our finishing the house by Michaelmas.

Believe me
My dear Sir
Yrs very faithfully
George H. Turner
Deopham
Feb. 24. 1851.

March 25th 1851

The Dean of Norwich reported back²⁹ on his visit to Deopham with a way forward for the school and some pertinent observations about the village:

Deanery Norwich
Lady Day, 1851

Dear Sir,
I visited Deopham to day with Mr Turner and Mr Millard, who is a very worthy man; but having 16 Children³⁰ all derived from one Member and only holding the lease as security for the amount of the last fine, which he was obliged to advance, cannot, of course afford any considerable content of sacrifice. He left it however entirely to me, and I have selected, with Mr Turner’s joyful acquiescence, the site nearest the Church, a quarter acre of which Mr Millard kindly resigns, as marked in pencil in the plan now returned. But the land is very good; and at that spot – so close to the homestead – well worth £2 per acre – when so minutely divided; and therefore I have agreed to recommend to the Dean and Chapter their allowing Mr Millard 10^s per annum rent for it or 1^s per annum from each member, to be deducted from the reserved rent – during the continuance of the present lease, it being at the option of the Chapter to except that piece of land from their future leases; Your Vicar seems energetic and spirited, and will do his best. His House is just commenced, and he is doing, also, something to the Church which is a very noble one but sadly neglected, dilapidated & misused. As usual the Lessees have been the great culprits. the Chancel being thatched !!! such a miserable East Window of Death, in the worst possible taste !!! With so much to do, I fear Mr Turner will find himself hard put to it for funds for his School. The Practice of our Chapter is: whenever a new School is erected in any Parish in which we have a hold either Tythes or Land – to any amount – to contribute £30 towards the erection, and to subscribe 3 Guineas per annum towards the maintenance of the Master or Mistress. We are a poor Body, or I hope we should do more: and I ought probably to feel ashamed of revealing our short comings to the Knowledge of a wealthier and more liberal Corporation. I trust that this Matter is now settled and to the satisfaction of my Kind Friends. If I can be of further use to them, I shall be happy.

Believe me, Dear Sir,
yours very truly, George

March 28th 1851

Mr. Millard confirmed the arrangement stated in the Dean of Norwich’s letter; it is not clear to whom this letter was addressed.³¹

March 28^th 1851

Dear Sir,
I am happy to find that by the Kind intervention of the Dean of Norwich a Site for the proposed School of Deopham has been agreed upon. I have submitted to the Dean & Canons in residence that during the remainder of the existing lease 10^s/- per annum should be remitted to you in consideration of your giving up this quarter of an Acre and having no power of determining this except at one of the general Audits of the Chapter they have agreed to recommend it to their brethren which will, there is no doubt, be carried into execution in June.

W. S. Millard Esq
Norwich

March 30th 1851

Mr Millard wrote³² to the Hon^ble. Dan^l. Finch at Canterbury confirming agreement had been reached:

Norwich March 30 1851

Dear Sir,
Deopham Rectory
Both parties having submitted to the arbitration of the Dean of Norwich, I doubt not that his recommendations will be carried out.

I am Sir your obedient servant
faithfully
W. S. Millard

April 2nd 1851

The Rev. Turner expressed³³ his satisfaction that he has obtained the site he wanted all along:

Deopham
April 2. 1851

My Dear Sir,
I am rejoiced at the prospect of a speedy settlement of our school site, as we are now just ready to begin operations. Our best thanks are indeed due to you for your kindness in bringing matters to such a successful issue.
The site now fixed on is decidedly preferable to any other – I have sent the draft to M^r Millard with a request that he will send it on to you as soon as possible.

I am My dear Sir,
yours very faithfully
George H. Turner

May 24th 1851

Mr. Turner wrote³⁴ to an unspecified person at No 14, Weymouth Street, Cavendish Square about the draft contract being mislayed:

My dear Sir,
I left the original draft of conveyance of Deopham school site in Mr Millard’s office – as I thought it of no more value, & I wrote to him immediately on receipt of yours to forward it direct to you. I hope it was not destroyed – or the fault will I fear be mine.

Believe me,
Yours very faithfully,
George H. Turner

May 16th 1851

The Rev. Turner stated³⁵ that he proposed to start digging the foundations “Monday next” even though the Deed of Conveyance had not been sealed and there were not enough funds:

My dear Sir,
I have just received from Mr Millard the draft for the conveyance of the School Site for Deopham parish – I hope now our work will get on speedily. We propose digging the foundations on Monday next, as we need not I suppose await the sealing of the deed – that will come in due time. Unhappily our funds are miserably deficient, but I must begin at once, & only hope some side wind may blow us good by & by.

Believe me
My dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
George H. Turner
Deopham
May 16. 1851

June 25th 1851 – Deed of Conveyance

On June 25^th 1851 a formal deed of conveyance was signed to transfer the land to the Vicar and Churchwardens:

June 30th 1851

The Deed of Conveyance was enrolled at the High Court of Chancery on June 30^th 1851:

The full text of this deed is as follows:

We The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral and Metropolitan Church of Christ Canterbury and William Salter Millard of Sprowston in the County of Norfolk Land Agent under the authority of an Act passed in the fifth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria entitled “An Act to afford further facilities for the Conveyance and Endowment of Sites for Schools” and of the Act of the Eighth year of the reign of Her present Majesty explaining the same Do hereby freely and voluntarily and without valuable Consideration Grant and Convey unto The Vicar of the Parish of Deopham in the said County of Norfolk and the Churchwardens³⁶ of the same Parish and their Successors All that piece of Land containing Forty Perches being part of a field called Church Field situate in the Parish of Deopham aforesaid as the same is now marked out and abutting from the Church Yard North upon the residue of the said Church Field South East and upon the Public Road leading to Hackford West and which said Premises are delineated in the Map drawn in the Margin hereof Together with all Easements Appurtenances and Hereditaments corporeal and incorporeal belonging thereto or connected therewith And all our Estate Right Title and Interest in or for the same Premises To hold the same unto and to the Use of the said Vicar and Churchwardens and their Successors for the purposes of the said first recited Act Upon Trust to permit the said premises and all Buildings thereon erected, or to be erected, to be forever hereafter appropriated and used as and for a School for the education of Children and Adults or Children only of the labouring, manufacturing and other poorer Class in the Parish of Deopham and as a Residence for the Teacher or Teachers of the said School and for no other purpose. Which said School shall always be in union with and conducted upon the principles and in furtherance of the ends and designs of the Incorporated National Society for providing the Education of the Poor in the principles of the Established Church and shall be at all reasonable times opened to the inspection of the Inspector or Inspectors for the time being appointed or to be appointed in conformity with the Order in Council bearing date the Tenth day of August One thousand eight hundred and forty and subject to and in conformity with the Declaration aforesaid the said School and Premises and the Funds and present Endowments thereof and such future Endowments in respect whereof This disposition shall be made by the donor thereof shall be directed, governed and managed and the appointment and dismissal of the Schoolmaster and Schoolmistress and of their Assistants shall be vested in and exercised by the Vicar or Officiating Minister for the time being of the said Parish. And in case any difference shall arise between such Vicar or Officiating Minister and the said National Society with reference to the management of the said School or respecting the religious instruction of Scholars or any regulation connected with the said School such difference shall be determined by the Bishop of the Diocese. In Witness whereof the said Dean and Chapter have hereunto set their Common Seal and the said William Salter Millard hath hereunto set his Hand and Seal the Twenty first day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty one.

Transcribed from the original document held by the Church of England at Diocesan House, Easton.

Comments on the Deed of Transfer of School Land

The draft contract held in the Canterbury Archive³⁷ shows that originally the National Society had required the school to have a management committee set up as below; none of this found its way into the final deed.

a) Members of the committee must be
– Members of the Church of England;
– Able to sign a declaration to the effect that “I do solemnly & sincerely declare that I am a member of the united Church of England and Ireland as by Law established”;
– Persons having a beneficial interest to the extent of a Life Estate at the least in real Property situated in the Parish or to be resident therein or in a Parish adjoining;
– Contributors in every year to the amount of twenty shillings each at least to the Funds of the School;
b) Further appointments to be made by the existing members voting;
c) The committee should be made up of either 6 members plus the vicar, or 4 + 2 churchwardens + vicar.
d) Each member would have one vote for each sum of ten shillings donated to school funds, up to a maximum of 6 votes per person.
e) The committee could appoint a group of ladies (all of whom must be members of the Church of England) to assist with the visitation and management of the Girls & Infant Schools.

July 1st 1851

The Rev. Turner wrote³⁸ chasing up sight of the Conveyance, explaining that work was well advanced on the school building, and giving an update on the construction of his vicarage:

Deopham
July 1^st. 1851

My Dear Sir,
If the conveyance of the site for Deopham School is signed [&] sealed then would you be kind enough to send it to me as soon as possible – I have given full trust to M^r. Millard & not only begun the Schools, but hope to see them finished within a fortnight. The roofing was commenced to day. I have received from Queen Anne’s Bounty Commissioners the Mortgage deed for signature & now am only waiting for the return of our Nominee, Mr Poley, to Attleboro’ to obtain his signature. He returns on Friday, & I hope our house will be begun on the Monday following – would you also be kind enough to inform me, what expense attends the conveyance of the school site, as it is necessary this should be entered in the account sent to the National Society. The Dissenters here are organising an opposition to the schools & persuading or trying to persuade the poor not to send their Children. I hope however they have seen enough of the evils of ignorance & will not be induced to throw away from their Children the advantage of a proper training.

Believe me,
My dear Sir,
Yours very faithfully,
George H. Turner

July 2nd 1851

A letter was written by Mr. Phillips³⁹ to the Hon D. Finch at Canterbury identifying an anomaly with the Deed of Conveyance:

17 Chancery Lane
2 July 1851

Sir,
Site for School at Deopham
At the Inrolment Office it is required that an attestation be indorsed by the due affixing of the Corporate Seal by the party witnessing it & that he also make an affidavit of that fact previous to its being admitted for Enrolment.

I am Sir,
yours obedient servant
John Philips

September 1851

A very embellished report of the opening of the school “on Wednesday last” appeared in the Church & State Gazette (London) and the Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. The same text also appears in an edition of the Churchman’s Companion of July 1851, although this may have been published later in the year.
The full text of this florid report can be seen in full here.

It is not clear how this grand opening ceremony reconciles to the fact that the roof was only started in July 1851, and that on May 31^st 1852 Turner said the school had been open for six months, which works out to a November/December 1851 opening. The report of the opening says that “the sun shone brightly on a joyous gathering of old and young”. In December?
A further anomaly is that no report of the school’s opening has been found in journals local to Norfolk.

October 2nd 1851

In October, 1851, long after the Deed of Conveyance was believed to have been authorised, the National Society wrote⁴⁰ to George Turner saying that they could not pay their grant because they had not seen the Deed of Conveyance⁴¹ (or even a draft). They refer to the state of the Deed’s enrolment, which was the subject of the letter of July 2nd quoted above.

Westminster
Oct 2. 1851
Deopham School Case

My dear Sir,
I find we have not seen even the draft, or any copy , of the conveyance of your School Site. Unless this be submitted & approved by the Committee I see no chance of them paying the amount of their grant.
If they approved of the draft & there were any special reason which hindered the enrolment or execution of the Deed, they might authorise the payment of the grant on an assurance from you that if the Deed were not enrolled you would repay the money –
But I fear I have no power under existing circumstances to order payment of the grant – I should advise you to send us up either the draft of the conveyance, or a copy of it; I will see there is no delay in the examination of it, If the Deed was sent to be enrolled in July it surely must be enrolled by this time as I never knew delay of more than 6 weeks or 2 months.
I am very sorry I am unable to comply with your request.

I am, dear Sir,
yours very faithfully
John Lonsdale
Secretary

October 3rd 1851

The next day after receiving this letter from the National Society, Mr Turner wrote again⁴²; since the letter is in the Canterbury Archive, one can assume it was addressed to the Dean & Chapter.

My dear Sir,
I fear from the enclosed letter of Mr Lonsdale that some mistake has occurred about the enrolment of the conveyance of our school site. And in consequence of the National Society having received no copy I cannot get their Grant of £30 altho’ the schools are finished. I trust you will not think me troublesome in drawing your attention to this, – it may perhaps be in your power to hasten on the business.

Believe me,
My dear Sir,
Yours very truly,
George H. Turner
Deopham
Attleboro’
Oct 3. 1851.

May 31st 1852

The Rev. George Turner wrote⁴³ to the Dean & Chapter at Canterbury painting a rosy picture of progress in Deopham:

Whit Monday, 1852
Deopham Vicarage
nr. Wymondham

Very Rev Sir,
It will, I hope, be satisfactory to yourself and the Chapter of Canterbury to hear that we are now settled in the new Vicarage house. It is, I believe, well built, commodious & conveniently near the Church and altogether such as will meet the approval of your Architect or Surveyor if at any time he should visit this place.
The new National Schools also have now been opened for six months; and they are certainly succeeding far better than I had reason to anticipate. We have now in them about 36 day scholars (boys & girls) & forty on Sundays. And there will probably be a large increase in the numbers during the Summer. Our Congregation also has increased from about 20 to 150 and upwards – & the Communicants from 6 or 7 to 25 who regularly attend on the first Sunday in every Month. I simply mention these parochial matters as I conceive you take some interest in a parish of which you are Patrons, and would be anxious to know whether your last Presentation was or was not for the good of the Parish.
I hope I may now, without incurring any blame, beg of your Chapter some assistance towards the Schools. There is still a debt for which I am answerable of about £20 including the conveyance expenses. The whole cost with house attached was £200 – and all the subscriptions I got from Landlords and Tenants connected with the parish was only £15 – exclusive of the Land. The whole of the Mistress’s salary also falls on me – (about £20) & the expenses of books, slates etc – save a small benefaction of £1.12 per annum & two subscriptions from Family one of 10^s/- the other of 5^s/-. I hope therefore I may look to your Chapter for some donation towards liquidating the debt – a debt which at present I cannot pay in consequence of the expenses of the Vicarage house which have fallen on me, over above the amount granted by the Queen Anne’s Bounty Commissioners.

I am Very Rev Sir,
Your faithful & Obedient servant,
George H. Turner

There is a reproduction of the original of this letter here.

The terms under which the school was to be operated as a National School are set out here.

Footnotes

DCC= From the Archive of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury

1. DCC, their ref BB 4/199. ↩︎
2. This would be a reference to the incumbent the Rev. Richard Adams who was resident at Edingthorpe. ↩︎
3. DCC, their ref BB 4/200. ↩︎
4. It would seem that the incumbent of Deopham had such a low profile that even the Bishop of Norwich did not know his full name (i.e. Rev. Richard Adams). ↩︎
5. DCC, their ref BB 4/201. ↩︎
6. The curate’s figure of 600 residents seems to be inflated. See here for comments on the population in 1848. Perhaps it includes children. ↩︎
7. DCC, their ref BB 4/202. ↩︎
8. The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Tyers Barrett was vicar of Attleborough at this time, and engaged in a major reordering of that church. He published a book on the history of Attleborough church in 1848. ↩︎
9. DCC, their ref BB 4/203. ↩︎
10. DCC, their ref BB 4/204. ↩︎
11. DCC, their ref BB 4/205.  ↩︎
12. DCC, their ref BB 4/206. ↩︎
13. DCC, their ref BB 4/207. ↩︎
14. DCC, their ref BB 4/208. ↩︎
15. DCC, their ref BB 4/211. ↩︎
16. The “Management Clauses” were a hot potato at the time, being the requirements set down by the Privy Council for schools in receipt of state assistance. Most significantly, they gave rights to those outside the Church of England to be involved in the management of such schools.
    ↩︎
17. Grants from the Privy Council were highly contentious at this time. These were state funds and the Privy Council was becoming increasingly adamant that the funds it provided should not be controlled solely by the local vicar, but that there should be a committee of management. ↩︎
18. This is not so much an objective appraisal of the competences of the churchwardens as a partisan statement that he wanted a school where the vicar was in sole charge, not answerable to a management committee as was being demanded by the state. ↩︎
19. Contemporary proposals in the Management Clauses of 1847 gave privileges to those subscribing ten shillings to be eligible to be on the school’s committee of management. The Rev. Turner clearly wanted no such committee: this reflected the demands of the high church clergy at that time. ↩︎
20. DCC, their ref BB 4/214. ↩︎
21. DCC, their ref BB 4/212. ↩︎
22. DCC, their ref BB 4 ↩︎
23. On account of extremist agitation from the Rev. Denison on behalf of the high church camp (the “tractarians”), this “bargain” drawn up in 1846 was teetering at the time the Deopham founding deed was being drawn up. ↩︎
24. DCC, their ref BB 4/215.  ↩︎
25. DCC, their refs BB 4/216 (letter) and BB 4/210 (map). ↩︎
26. DCC, their ref BB 4/217. ↩︎
27. DCC, their ref BB 4/218. ↩︎
28. DCC, their ref BB 4/219 ↩︎
29. DCC, their ref BB 4/220 for the letter and BB 4/209 the plan ↩︎
30. William Salter Millard had 5 children by his first wife Philippa and a further 10 by his second wife Isabel. Philip Salter Millard, a son from the first marriage, was living at “Rectory Farm, Deopham” according to the 1852 Register of Electors. In 1874 George Millard, a son from William Millard’s second marriage, was living at “Manor Farm, Deopham” which is another name for Church Farm – see here. Philip had by then moved to Ditchingham.
    It is possible that William Millard had a conflict of interest in acquiring Church Farm for two of his sons whilst he was acting as agent for the lessees. ↩︎
31. DCC, their ref BB 4/221 ↩︎
32. DCC, their ref BB 4/222 ↩︎
33. DCC, their ref BB 4/223 ↩︎
34. DCC, their ref BB 4/225 ↩︎
35. DCC, their ref BB 4/226 ↩︎
36. The final deed included the churchwardens along with the vicar as recipients of the school land. This was contrary to the earlier wish of the vicar – see his letter of December 10^th 1850. On the other hand, he was obviously successful in fighting off contemporary calls for there to be a school committee of management including lay members of the parish. ↩︎
37. DCC, their ref BB 4/214 ↩︎
38. DCC, their ref BB 4/227 ↩︎
39. DCC ↩︎
40. DCC, their ref BB 4/228 and also the covering letter  ↩︎
41. DCC, their ref BB 4/213. ↩︎
42. DCC, their ref BB 4/228 and also the enclosure ↩︎
43. DCC, their ref BB 4/229 ↩︎

Bibliography

• Henry James Burgess, Enterprise in Education, 1958
• Official Letters in explanation of the Minute of the Committee of Council on Education, 1847
• G.F.A. Best, Temporal Pillars, 1964, pp 156-160

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Date	Change
22-27/4/24	Comments on Management Clauses
2/11/23	Published