Following on from the Former Schools post I took some more photos of these two delightful cottages. So I've decided to write another article specifically for them rather than just slot the extra photos in the original one. There's also quite a lot of interesting information to add too.
First off, I must apologise for the photos. I didn't realise they weren't focussed properly and although I've tried to correct it in post editing, they've actually got worse.
Anyway, what I'm going to do is manage with these for now then exchange them for others after taking more. Fingers crossed!
Built in 1840, it's a Grade II listing and comprises one building containing the school room on the right and the master's house on the left. The main door is between them with the inscription 'Infant School 1840' on the porch.
Slotted between houses with higher roof lines. altogether they form what is named Yew Terrace, according to the 1889 Ordnance Survey map, and is along what was once Sidmouth Street, now called Harepath Road.
This lovely little infants schoolroom is designed in a Tudor style throughout with moulded portico and finial above the entry porch, comlimenting the dripmoulds above the windows. The porch is delightful with its slightly pointed archway and fitted benches either side. There's also a mural on one inside wall and if I can get permission I'll take a photo and add it with the new ones when I have them.
A single storey, the school room consists of large, leaded pane windows, each consisting of three mullioned and transomed lights. In the window below, I just about managed to capture a small inside window at the rear of the school room. Comprising two lights with diamond panes, the left light also includes a stained glass monogram.
Now two separate cottages privately owned, the buildings are called 'No 11 and the premises of The Women's Institute' in the Listed Buildings entry. The listing date was 1983 and had belonged to the the WI for some time before that. I'm not sure when they sold it but I think it was sometime during the early 1990s.
Now onto next door to the Master's House at No 11, which is now called Cherry Cottage. This one consists of two storeys with three small leaded windows on the first floor with two larger ones either side of the door on the ground floor.
The walls are roughcast in stucco with a plank door and flat hood above. There's a brick chimney stack at the roof ridge.
The building is attributed to a Captain Proby, who'd also built Ryall's Court School. It took a while to find out which one with dates that match but eventually tracked him down. He was William Henry Baptist Proby - born in 1794 and died in 1839 - and had gained the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy
Although he'd died a year before it was built he was instrumental in arranging for its construction and was also part of the commission to build a workhouse for the poor in Seaton.
Something I found very interesting was a log book for Seaton Infant School by William Henry Baptist Proby, which was in auction at Toovey's Antique & Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers. The section concerning significant events at the school was written circa 1876-1920, which was long after our William died. However, he did have a son with exactly the same names as himself so it was probably him following in his fathers footsteps.
The significant events included general attendance, visits and school inspections. An inspector's report is quoted in the auctioneer's description of contents that "the school is doing 'very fairly in reading, writing and numbers...singing is fair, needlework is very fair' but 'desks of proper construction ought to be provided' ".
It's so lovely to imagine the little ones in their Victorian clothes sitting on bench forms and reading aloud or plying their needlework.
I've always loved seeing both these cottages as the garden on the left is a gorgeous cottage garden and the right one has such delightful architectural features. It also contains the loveliest of single roses with an incredible scent that I always pause to enjoy.
And there we have it!
As soon as I can I'll take some better photos of the schoolroom. I was going to do that before writing this article but I'd already left it so long - and I didn't want to go back on my promise this time. Anyway, I'm honestly not sure what's next as almost everything relies on getting more photos.
However, I do have another new scanner! I didn't like the 'new' one I'd set up for various reasons. Although unused, I'd had it in store for quite a long time, so I crossed my fingers and spent a fair bit of money on another one. It's a flat bed that also scans negatives and slides, which is much better. I have scanning to do from a recent photo shoot too, so that's good. New stuff! :)
Cheers for now and I hope to see you very soon. Oh, and having made up my mind when I started my website (then blog) that I won't do any politics - apart from the odd little rant about Councils and silly decisions regarding my subject matter - but I do want to say this...
Chin up, keep as well as possible, and don't let the wossnames get you down! :)
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