Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School explained

Brockenhurst Church of England Primary School
Address:Sway Road
Location:Brockenhurst
County:Hampshire
Country:England
Postcode:SO42 7RX
Coordinates:50.8166°N -1.5783°W
Type:Voluntary controlled school
Religious Affiliation:Church of England
Local Authority:Hampshire County Council
Ofsted:yes
Urn:116276
Head Label:Headteacher
Head:John Littlewood
Gender:Co-educational
Lower Age:2
Upper Age:11
Enrollment:226
Enrollment As Of:July 2023

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]

Benefactor

Henry Thurston was born in Brockenhurst, baptised at St. Nicholas in August 1692 and buried in the churchyard on 10 September 1745. 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

Brockenhurst School was established as a charity by the will of Henry Thurston and opened on 1 January 1752. 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. 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, still standing south of the railway crossing.

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

External links

Notes and References

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