The second half of the century saw the School move to its third site and the last in London. In response to ever increasing numbers, new school premises, bigger than the last, were created to accommodate more pupils. The site chosen was St John’s Hill, Battersea, facing the north end of Wandsworth Common, next to what was to become Clapham Junction about a decade later. Geographically confused, the postal address was Battersea, Wandsworth Common was just over there, Clapham Junction was next door and the telephone number (eventually) was through the Putney exchange. But it was always known by the girls as Clapham or sometimes Clapham J, so as such we shall refer to it.
On 2nd August 1852, there was a grand opening ceremony costing £400 ‘so that everything might be done with grace and splendour’ (Royal Masonic Institution for Girls from 1788 to 1900 by G Blizard Abbott). An estimated 4000 people were in attendance, marquees erected, bands engaged to provide vocal and instrumental music and later dancing to a quadrille band. ‘Nine hundred dined, presided over by the Grand Master’ (which implies 900 Freemasons) and it was said to be almost midnight before the festivities were over. The girls in the meantime had been returned to St George’s, Southwark. Although present to view the School and participate in the ceremonial, they were not to move in until December.
Life at Clapham was pretty much the same as life at St George’s just in a bigger space. In summer, the girls rose at 6 am and in winter at 7 am. The pupils would rise and dress themselves. By 1845, the uniform had changed little from the 1788 original: the blue serge dress – the same; the white apron, with the bib and wide ‘collar’- the same.
By 1852, the apron had shortened but remained in proportion to the amount of dress covered as the dress itself had also shortened. Its hem had risen to mid-calf length where it remained for considerable time, regardless of what the skirt lengths did in the external world of fashion.
No concession was made for even the youngest pupils (8 years old) who were faced with the daily task of donning all the uniform. Underneath the dress were the black woollen stockings worn throughout the year, regardless of external temperatures. And then there were the dreaded ‘combinations’, which were long-sleeved, long-legged and buttoned up to the throat. In summer, they were cotton, but in winter they were made of wool “which had the consistency of steel wool. They itched, prickled and tingled” as one pupil recalled.
Up and dressed, Morning Prayers were at 7.30 am in summer and 8.45 am in winter and breakfast followed. In 1877 this comprised bread and butter, washed down by milk and water. By 1895, tea, coffee or cocoa were added to the menu.
After breakfast, chores were completed and these varied but included dusting, tidying, and Being Generally Helpful. Lessons began at 9.30 am until 12.30 pm, six days a week.
There were half-holidays on Wednesdays and Saturdays where girls were not in lessons but were obliged to be occupied meaningfully.
Until 1853 (i.e. very shortly after the School moved into Clapham), there had been no school holidays of any kind. The 1792 Committee expressed the very decided opinion ‘that leave of absence from the School ought not to be granted to any Child on any pretence whatever, as the preservation of good Order in the School and the Health and Morals of the Children essentially depend on their never being suffered to go home to their Friends while under the protection of this Charity.’ Sounds horrendous from this end of Time but RMIG was not alone in this kind of view. Other charity schools expressed similar misgivings about the ‘damage’ that may result if parents intervened in their daughters’ education. Much had changed in the intervening half century but it was still down to the persistence of the Medical officer, Dr Gaskoin, to push for some kind of school holiday and two periods of three weeks, winter and summer, were granted. By 1892 these had been extended to
Five weeks in the Summer
Three weeks at Christmas
Easter Monday
Whit Monday
Last Saturday in June (ex-pupils’ day)
Michaelmas Day
November 9th (The Grand Master’s birthday)
And the half-holidays previously mentioned.
When the School first removed to Clapham, the lessons were still very basic – little more than the 3Rs, their catechism, and lots of sewing. In 1858, in a grudging concession that education for girls had developed, French and Drawing were introduced and pianos provided for music lessons. As with all things, once changes were made, there was scope for further changes. By 1888, prizes were awarded in: Religious Knowledge, Music, Drawing, French, German, Elocution, Arithmetic & Cookery, thus indicating that these had been added to the curriculum.
Drill provided exercise but there was also a swimming pool which, in winter, was drained and boarded over to become the gymnasium.
Following morning school, lunch was at 1pm.
Over a twenty year period, the midday meal was much the same – meat, veg and pud.
Afternoon lessons began at 2pm and ended at 5pm except for the half-holidays.
These images were taken by one of the pupils and, whilst somewhat faded, still gives a sense of what the classrooms looked like.
Afternoon lessons may have been followed by limited free time then tea was at 6pm and comprised bread and butter and tea or coffee. Occasionally, if in season, it was supplemented by radishes, mustard and cress, watercress and cake (which begs the question when is the season for cake?)
Originally that had been it for the sustenance but towards the end of the C19th supper was added, consisting of milk and bread and butter, cake or biscuits. Somewhat delightfully, those senior girls who were working hard for external exams were actually allowed claret! The School report to the ‘gentlemen of the Committee’ from the Head Governess for Nov 21 1872 reads:
‘Miss Davis will feel obliged if the Committee will again allow one dozen pint bottles of claret for the children during that week, as she has found that the best thing for their refreshment in the midst of their work.’
You can imagine the spluttering that would be going on in the Home Counties if a Headteacher were today to request alcohol to improve pupils’ attainment.
On Saturday, lunch was stewed meat, vegetables, bread and baked rice pudding (and lessons in the morning). Occasionally, when in season, the menus included pork, fish, peas, beans, plum pudding, fruit pies and salad.
Sundays meant church morning and evening, separated by (summer) Roast beef, vegetables, bread and fruit tarts or (winter) Stewed beef, dumplings, vegetables and bread.
Church services required that the whole School decamped and went off to a nearby church; any of St Paul’s, St Mary’s, St Luke’s or St Mark’s. As any one concerned with moving large numbers will confirm, the logistics of shifting 350+ girls from one place to another meant the crocodile to end all crocodiles.
This image, showing the original site of Battersea Grammar School, suggests that this may have been the homeward journey from St Mark’s.
Whatever meal was being eaten, in whatever season, it was consumed in silence. These were not convivial occasions but functional. Grace was sung both before and after every meal. Anyone who had not finished her meal before the second grace had to face the ignominy of sitting down again afterwards and finishing her meal, under the gaze of the pupils filing out of the dining room.
After tea and before supper, pupils did the school work set for completion for the following day. There might also be chores to do as one of the lessons the girls took away with them from their days at school was the virtue of industry.
And then it was bedtime with uniform carefully folded and stored in a basket underneath the bed, ready for the next morning.
RMSG History Extra 