Schools

Coalbrookdale Boys School

This was established before 1816 in premises belonging to the Coalbrookdale Company. In 1818 it was the largest day school in the area with 123 pupils. In 1840 a new two-storey building was erected below Woodside. Attendance eventually began to fall.

In 1916 the County Council bought the building from the Company and it became known as the Coalbrookdale Boys Council School.

It closed in 1938. Mr Charles Rowley was head teacher for 43 years (1878-1921), his wife also taught there. Two of their daughters and one son also became teachers.

Coalbrookdale Church School

This school, for Girls and Infants, was founded by Mrs Abraham Darby on 1813.

In 1840 the school was moved to a new building in Wellington Road, with a school house provided. In 1855 it had 100 pupils. In 1938 the Coalbrookdale Boys Council School joined the Girls school which then became a Primary School.

In 1971 the school moved to the premises of the former Coalbrookdale High School. It became the Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge C of E Primary School.

Marnwood School

Situated on the boundary of the Coalbrookdale Parish. Reverend John Bartlett who was the incumbent of Buildwas from 1822-1861 founded this school in 1824. In the 19th century Marnwood became a private school for the middle class children.

Mrs Chune’s School?

This lovely little building, situated on land now owned by Mr Cyril Thomas, ended its day as a Summer House. We are led to believe that it was formerly a school and built for Mrs Chune, by her husband. Intended further research may help to set a date and perhaps more details as to its role as a school. Any help will be welcome.

Coalbrookdale High School

The school was opened on 29th November 1911 by Sir Arthur Anstice K.C.B. The first headmaster was Mr Maurice Jones, the first headmistress was Miss A Hurst.

The boys & girls were taught separately until 1932. The school was fee paying until 1944 when education became free for all. A scholarship exam was held for pupils wishing to attend the school. Pupils from a wide area attended – many travelling from Much Wenlock and beyond by train.

In 1965 the school was amalgamated with Madeley Modern School. Some classes still used the building until 1968 when the school moved to the present Abraham Darby School

Coalbrookdale High School – Form IV July 1917

private collection

 

 Coalbrookdale High School – Form V July 1917

private collection

Coalbrookdale High School – July 1917 

private collection

Coalbrookdale High School – July 1917

private collection

Thanks to John William Newport for sending us the following comments about the High School after seeing these photographs on our website:

 

 “I went to Madeley Wood School until I passed the 11-plus exam and then went to Coalbrookdale High School, of which I have fond memories – especially the school dinners which were beautifully cooked – no joking!. My wife was born in Dawley and, also, went to the High School. We still talk of Mrs Duddle’s (not too sure how she spelt her name but she was the cook and had other assistants) custard, salad cream, cubed pickled beetroot, bread & butter pudding, and her beans in tomato sauce – they were mouth-watering. Then they were all cooked in the school kitchen.”

 

John has also sent us  a photograph of Coalbrookdale High School pupils & teachers taken in 1951. If anyone remembers him and wants to get in touch please let us know and we can pass on your contact details to him. 

Thanks also to Roy Fraser of Panora Ltd who owns the copyright for giving permission for it to be included on our website.

(Click on photograph to open in another window then again for clearer image.)

Coalbrookdale High School 1951

 

The Institute.

  

The Coalbrookdale Literary & Scientific Institute  was formed in 1853 and was followed three years later by a school of Art. This was set up with the object of promoting better standards of design for art castings made in the ironworks.

The Institute was built by the Coalbrookdale Company in 1859. Mr W Hinley was the builder – he also built Holy Trinity Church.

One of its many noted tutors was Mr Percy Simpson, a famous painter from the Coalport China Works. From 1948 well-attended evening classes were held in the Institute.

We have been told that the Institute was also used by Coalbrookdale High School for art lessons in the 1950′s.

Today it is a Youth Hostel and well used by schools visiting the Ironbridge Gorge.

Madeley Wood School?

John William Newport sent us the following photograph and comments:

“Here is the photograph of my mother (second row from the front, third from the left – born Edith Lilian Bagnall) taken at her school with the rest of her class (Class 2).
She was born in 1914 and, as she looks about 10 years old, I would guess the date of the photo as being the year 1924.
She was born along Hodge Bower (the house is still standing) and I assume that the school was that at Madeley Wood (just south of Jockey Bank) but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know any of the other children or who the teacher was.
If it’s of any interest, I’ve just remembered my mother always said that she changed her religion (temporarily!) from C of E to Catholic because that way she could avoid arithmetic lessons!
She used to work, when she left school, at the potteries in Coalport – one of her jobs putting the spouts on tea-pots!
I’m very interested in your website because, though I was born in London, we moved to Ironbridge in about 1947, when I was about 9 and I lived there, in the same house along the Wharfage, until I was married and moved to Shrewsbury.”
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Dawley Church of England School

Although outside of the main Ironbridge Gorge Area you may be interested in the following photograph of class 4 (date unknown) of the nearby Dawley Church of England School (‘The National’) which was opened in 1841

This photograph belonged to teacher Miss Nora Barnett (far right back row) who also apppears in one of the 1917 Coalbrookdale High School photographs above.