Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School

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Brockenhurst School, now Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School, is a former charity school in the English village of Brockenhurst, Hampshire. It was founded in 1752, funded by a legacy from Henry Thurston, a former coachman from the village.[1]

Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School
Address
Map
Sway Road


,
SO42 7RX

England
Coordinates50°49′00″N 1°34′42″W / 50.8166°N 1.5783°W / 50.8166; -1.5783
Information
TypeVoluntary controlled school
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Established1752 (1752)
Local authorityHampshire County Council
Department for Education URN116276 Tables
OfstedReports
HeadteacherJohn Littlewood
GenderCo-educational
Age2 to 11
Enrollment226 (July 2023)
Websitewww.brockenhurstceprimary.co.uk

Benefactor

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Henry Thurston was born in Brockenhurst, baptised at St. Nicholas in August 1692 and buried in the churchyard on 10 September 1745.[1] He had been coachman to George Baker, attorney, of St. George's, Hanover Square, London, whose family home was Brockenhurst Farm – a substantial manor house.

History

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Brockenhurst School was established as a charity by the will of Henry Thurston and opened on 1 January[citation needed] 1752.[1] In June 1749 the Thurston Estate stood at £573.0s.0d and invested in 3 percent annuities producing £17.3s.10d. p.a. for the benefit of the school. The Trustees were George Baker, Matthew Reynolds, George Etheridge and William Masters who first met on 30 September 1751 and the school opened on 1 January 1752 to provide for 10 poor boys and 10 poor girls.

The Trustees were to provide a house and to appoint a Master and Mistress at a joint salary of £10 p.a.; the rent for School House was £5 p.a.[citation needed] The location of the first school house is uncertain but for a time was at the house of Matthew Reynolds and a little later moved to Ash Cottage,[1] still standing south of the railway crossing.

The new school building and house was completed on the present site in April 1863[1] and opened with 47 pupils, although by October the number had increased to 93. The school was enlarged in 1912 and again in 1999.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Ian Crump (9 January 2021). Photos: The New Forest school that was once a charity for the poor. Southern Daily Echo
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