The Elementary School, 1928-

24 March 1928: Laying the Foundation Stone of the Elementary School: Fr. Arendzen, Dr. Vaughan, the Duke of Marlborough.
24 March 1928: Laying the Foundation Stone of the Elementary School: Fr. Arendzen, Dr. Vaughan, the Duke of Marlborough.

In the 1920s the time came when a Parish School had to be built. But the use of Brickfield met with local objection because of its nearness to St. Andrew’s School. By now there were no other suitable sites left; so, in desperation, it was decided to build the school on the site of the parish hall, which was demolished! There was not a proper parish centre again till 1939.

The school was designed to take 300 pupils and cost £12,000. The Foundation Stone was laid by the Duke of Marlborough on 24th March 1928 and the school officially opened in October by Cardinal Bourne.

The parish debt now stood at £14,000. Yet the Catholic children attending other schools in the area were so numerous that in no time the Sisters of Jesus and Mary (they provided the Headmistress and, for many years, several of the staff) found themselves teaching classes of over 40.

A well-loved personality of those years was Mother Stanislaus, who taught at the school for 40 years, 23 of them as Headmistress. On the occasion of her retirement in July 1972 a party was given at the ‘Spotted Dog’ — near neighbour to the Convent. Mother Stanislaus said “For many years I have lived in sight and sound of the ‘Spotted Dog’ and at last I have made it inside!” Later that evening, when a file of nuns, well after canonical hours, debouched from the ‘Dog’, patrons rubbed their eyes….

Move to next section – The Sisters of Charity – 1923 –
Return to Contents Page