East Howle, Ferryhill
East Howle School
Last Updated:
9 Sept 2024
East Howle, Ferryhill
This is a
School
54.705116, -1.539194
Founded in
Current status is
Extant
Designer (if known):
Now a private residence
Out of any school on my walk through Durham's Category D villages, this was the one which had me standing in awe. Its surroundings are sparse, supporting no more than a couple hundred people, but the craftsmanship and effort put in to building a space like this is astounding.
This is East Howle school on the northern fringes of the village, right between the way to Metal Bridge. It was in 1876 when a site was sought by the Tudhoe School Board to encompass the population of Metal Bridge. Beforehand, only Tursdale Colliery School was available which was some distance away. Kids had to cross two streams, one of which was only crossable with a plank, and caused a great deal of anxiety.
150 children in total required a new setting, and with 60 or 70 houses to be built in the locality it was here where they settled. The site was purchased from the Dean & Chapter so long as the Ecclesiastical Commissioners retained rights for mining and working. Henceforth construction commenced, with Messrs. Hutchinson & Sedgewick in charge of building. This included a gorgeous Headmasters House which is still there, and the only one in the area.
This was a mixed school with facilities for both infants and juniors. Apparently the school had great problems from its opening with discipline, with constant resignations and that teachers could not "keep order", with boys continually running round the classrooms. Corporal punishment was common place like hand striking and the cane, with harsh consequences for mild misdemeanours as a result of the behaviour.
The school also held community events like flower shows. In fact, the schools actually closed on the afternoon for them. Occasionally there were also galas and seaside trips to Redcar and Roker. It was also used for General Elections as a polling station.
The school was operational until 1969, a few years after the surrounding settlements were listed as D villages. Children were likely ferried over to Cornforth or Ferryhill for their education.
Also, I cannot recommend enough this thesis by AM Lilley on Education in Tudhoe between 1876 - 1904 (1982). The detail is astounding and is the source for much of this entry: https://etheses.dur.ac.uk/7681/1/7681_4746.PDF
Listing Description (if available)
The Ordnance Survey maps shown depict the school between the 1890s and 1910s. Its proximity between the pit village of East Howle and Metal Bridge defined its purpose - providing suitable learning accommodation for 150 kids. The headmasters house is shown on the south end, and two small outhouses which were presumably storage. Children made use of the field on the north side as a recreation ground.
To go back in time slightly, the map surveyed in the 1850s highlights just how much mining activity impacted this area. Before East Howle Colliery was sunk it was nothing more than a farmstead with the odd gravel pit and country road. Thrislington Colliery had already been sank eastwards, but those working there likely came from Cornforth. Metal Bridge was yet to exist too, and therefore seldom need to establish a school. You'll see it was an ideal location for a colliery though given its proximity to railways leading in every direction.
East Howle School in 2024
East Howle School from the north looking south. The field in the foreground was used by the children as a playing field.
The beautiful school house where the headmaster resided. This was the only headmasters house in the local area at the time.