Chapter 13
1859, the last week of May Tuesday The kids can’t contain themselves. They have all been up in Charles Brown’s field. Have been all day. All the kids in the village and most of the grownups as well. Some of them might still be up there now. We have known about the great tea party to celebrate the opening of the school for weeks. We weren’t expecting anything like this! Early this morning we had two horses and waggons turn up from Wotton with half a dozen men. The carts were full of great poles and ropes and gigantic sheets of canvas. Old Jim Wiggins was there from the start and told us how Edward Stone arrived in his chaise and took charge of things with Charles Brown. Apparently, they had all arrived to erect a marquee that had to be set up on some level ground. Old Jim didn’t know what a marquee was and nobody else there from the village knew either. He told us that finding the best bit of level ground took quite a while. Stakes were put in the ground. Then there was much pacing out. One man was positioned to stand next to each stake to show where it was. There were three different places they tried before they seemed to be in agreement that the first spot would be the best. By the time I arrived the poles and ropes had been unloaded from the cart and they were looking for volunteers to help. Everything had to be exactly right. The cow pats were being cleared from the field. The big canvas sheets were laid on the grass and then laced together to make one great big sheet. The poles were all set out, before being joined to make really long poles. The men from Wotton connected the long ropes to the top of the poles, then laid them out on the grass. Stakes were hammered into the ground at carefully measured distances. We were all given a long address by Edward Stone on how this thing was going to be pulled into the air. We were told which ropes to get and stand next to but warned NOT to pick up the ropes until he gave the word. The kids were swarming all over the spot wanting to help but mainly getting in the way. They were all looking for a bit of rope to stand next to. There wasn’t really enough rope to go round. Charles Brown attempted to weed out the under five-year-olds to sit and watch from one of the waggons. Kids as young as three tried to make out they were five and were strong enough to pull on a rope. There was much pushing and shoving before they were brought under control and something like quiet returned. Me and young Jim Turvey were given one of the jobs of standing with our clodhoppers at the base of the poles to make sure they didn’t move. We were just about to make a start when the Curate, William Gilbert, arrived with a big box of little red, white and blue flags. Bunting he called it. This had to be fixed to the top and along the corner ropes before we were given the off. On Edward Stone’s instructions the ropes were grasped and slowly pulled. The Wotton men were in charge of the back ropes to stop the tall poles going beyond upright. The men and boys on ropes one and five were told to hold off a bit. The whole thing looked a bit rickety until the ropes were all fastened to the stakes. None of these seemed to be exactly in the right place and had to be moved. Jim said that he wouldn’t like to battle with this thing on a windy day. He reckoned with a strong wind coming from Boarstall way, we could easily have ended up in Marsh! What a size! There was much discussion about how big it was and was it bigger or smaller than the church. Nobody could remember seeing anything like this in Piddington before. The kids went mad, running in and out and tripping over the ropes. The Wotton men got the side walls laced on the marquee after a while. They had a job from keeping the kids from crawling under and getting back in. William Parrott and Richard Sulston are on guard duty tonight. It hasn’t taken long for the school and the master’s house to be built. The builders from Winchendon knew what they were doing. They had proper plans and everything. Every little detail was shown on the drawings. The windows high in the roof. The different patterns of brickwork. The pointy doors. A lot of folk have stood around and watched the building going up. We have seen how all of the things shown on the plans have been built right in front of us. What we hadn’t expected to see were the different colours of brick. The big windows will make the school room fill with light. They made a good start last autumn and then we had an important service in the middle of November. We were all expecting the Bishop of Oxford and the Marquis of Chandos to turn up to lay the special stone at the school. There was a lot of excitement about having a Marquis turn up in Piddington. Nobody knew what a Marquis would look like. Some folk thought he might arrive in a gold coach pulled by white horses. In the end neither of them turned up. It was still a very special day mind. We had flags by the vicarage and on the school. The church tower was decorated, and we had the bells a‘ringing. The choir came from Brill. Henry Mole, the Brill carrier, brought some of them down over Muzzle. The Rural Dean from Launton stood in for the Bishop. He said that the Bishop was unwell. There was a procession of Vickers in their surplices, Brill choir and kids from the village carrying banners. The banners said, “Fear God!” and “Honour the Queen!” Edward Stone did the laying of the special stone at the school. He said that the Marquis was sorry he couldn’t come. Edward had a right old go about the poor state of learning in the village. He praised the Church and the Government and hoped that folk would send their kids to the school when it is opened. The Curate thanked Edward Stone for his generosity in giving the land to allow the school and master’s house to be built. We did get the Bishop back again earlier this month. There were notices put up in the village and other villages around. It also went in the newspapers. He gave a special sermon in aid of the school building fund. The church was packed. A good collection according to Old Henry. Henry seems to know how the fund is doing. He reckons that with the government grant and all the donations from the farmers and folk from the village we must be there. Not forgetting the Stones’ and Browns’ relatives and neighbours from other villages. Wednesday Big moon tethered above Boarstall last night. Another lovely morning. I hope it stays fine for the tea party tomorrow. Broad beans are doing well. I need to get some pea sticks in soon. My goosegog bushes have been nibbled again. I saw the little mole catcher this morning. He had walked over from Arncott. It is ages since I last saw him. He hasn’t changed a bit mind. I recognised him as he walked up the lane with his snares and traps hanging around his belt. He told me that he was off up to the vicarage to try and sort the moles out there. I could just make out his little dark eyes and his pointy nose underneath his black hat. The wife has been talking with young Sarah Parrott, young George’s new wife, Sarah Bottrell that was. Her young sister got married earlier this month. Elizabeth, only nineteen. All of the Bottrell girls’ cousins came over from Islip again. Elizabeth married Charles Brown. He must be about thirty. It was his second marriage, after his first wife, Elizabeth Griffin died in childbirth. Sarah told the wife that her sister is finding it strange being a farmer’s wife out at Wretchwick. She prefers being in the middle of the village. She says that the rest of the Brown family have been very good with her. She has several sisters-in-law, although they are all older than her of course. Sarah was concerned about her older sister Martha, left all on her own. George and Sarah still have Jane living with them at the wheelwrights. Jane Hubbocks, George’s niece, his elder Sister’s orphan. She is not much younger than the two of them. Sarah thought that her and George were going to be on their own after the marriage. Not only Jane but George has got a young apprentice and he is living with them as well. Thursday The weather has been kind to us all day. Just as well with everyone outside for the day. Nobody can remember when the whole village has got together like this before. Every last person and quite a few from other villages as well. The sight of the marquee, the flags, the tea and cakes, the Bicester Band, the games for everyone. The nicest thing was everyone was talking to everyone else. People were walking around with big smiles on their faces. Nobody seemed to want to go home. There were quite a few of us in The Stars tonight. Most of the men wanted a few beers to take away the taste of all that tea. It’s funny how most have come round to thinking that the school is going to be good for the village. Folk were talking about the day, the tea party and the school and how fortunate we are in the village. Old Henry said that the school would never have been built by now without the young Curate taking over from Vicar Hill. And, he said, William Gilbert has put his hand in his own pocket as well. He is buying the school bell! He doubted if Vicar Hill has got anything in his pocket at all! Mary Ann said that she had heard that the school master has been chosen. She said that he and his wife will be arriving in the summer. Folk were wondering if he knew what he would be letting himself in for trying to learn all the kids in Piddington. There was still talk of events at the Stars last December. There is always someone who comes into the bar and asks Jim Maycock to recount the story. Jim doesn’t seem to tire of telling the tale and he manages to draw it out a bit longer each time he tells it. Jim told the tale of this old chap from Ludgershall who came into the Stars for a bit of a session one night. Jim said that he was called David Jarvis, a carpenter from Ludgershall, although I doubt if he or anybody else knew who he was at the time. Jim said that this old chap left at about eleven o’clock on that night to go and see a friend of his at Boarstall. He said that the old chap never got to Boarstall, as he found him the following day, he’d hanged himself in the stables next door! More recent news was of Mark Burgess thieving again. This time he has stolen from Cath Busby’s shop. Old Henry said that he has stolen meat again! He couldn’t understand what it was about him keeping pinching meat. This time he went with thirteen pounds of bacon. Henry reckoned that he has been living the other side of Muzzle recently and he knows that he has stolen meat in Brill, in Ludgershall and now in Piddington. Mary Ann said that he might be thinking of setting up a butcher’s shop in competition with Henry. Friday The weather has been fine again today. Just as well. All the kids were back in the marquee this afternoon. Every last one of them. A tea party was laid on especially for them today. More games followed. What a racket. They must have heard the laughing and squealing as far away as Arncott and Ludgershall. I spent some time looking into the brook with young Jacob Reynolds this evening. I let him talk. I tried to be there for listening. Just like with Old John Reynolds and Anne a while back when I needed to talk. It was a bit of a sad time this last Christmas. Jacob’s wife Hannah gave birth to twin boys the day after Christmas Day. Straight away they knew that they were going to struggle. The Curate baptised them the very same day. Isaac and Charles they were called. They only lived three days. The Reynolds family were back to the church for their burials on the first day of January. We had Old John Reynolds die just a few weeks after that. Eighty-seven. The last of the old’ns. Anne is still going. She and Old John were moved into another one of Edward Stone’s cottages when their old cottage was knocked down to make way for the school. They only moved a few yards closer to the bakery. Old Anne says she really likes the look of the school. She calls it a real fine building. I don’t think her eyes can be up to much at all now. I expect she hears folk talking about it as they come past and repeats things she has heard. I asked if Jacob was related to Old John. He said he thought his grandfather was Old John’s brother. We both couldn’t remember Old John talking about having any children. He said that he and Hannah went to Old John’s burial service along with all the Reynolds family. It seems strange not having Old John & Old Jim stood by the brook of an evening sorting out the problems of the Parish. No more rhymes about two different sorts of folk in the village. I can’t see anyone else following on from them. I suppose the new Old Topsy, William Turvey, might. And let’s not forget Old Zachary. Sources & Inspirations The drawings for the school: The impressive detailed plans for the school and master’s house held in the archives section of the Oxfordshire History Centre in Cowley. The important service in the middle of November: Discovered just four weeks ago. |
The Marquis of Chandos: Richard Plantagenet Campbell Grenville, (a much-abbreviated version of his full name) Third Duke of Buckingham & Chandos. Owner of Wotton House and a neighbour of Edward Stone. A very full description of his life and family can be found on Wikipedia. In stark comparison with other households in Piddington and in Wotton at the time, the 1861 census shows him, his wife and three small girls with a few servants: Governess, Nurse, Nursery Maid, Lady’s Maid, House Maid, Laundry Maid, Cook, Scullery Maid, Coachman, Butler and Footman. Henry Mole, the Brill carrier: No evidence at all that he brought any of the choir down from Brill. An opportunity for a brief appearance of my great great great-grandfather. He and his wife lived in Church Street, Brill. One or more of their ten children could have been in the choir! The Bishop’s special sermon: Sunday 8th May 1859 Oxfordshire Telegraph Wednesday 18th May “The Bishop of Oxford at Piddington Sunday, the 8th instant, the Bishop of Oxford preached in Piddington Church, a sermon in aid of the National Schools Building Fund, at that village. The church was crowded. The collection amounted to about £13.” The fund for the school and master’s house: Transcript of Parish Records: |
Notes on the subscribers that I can identify:
The records show that the school bell was presented by William Gilbert and the school clock by Mrs Stone of Wotton, Edwards’s wife, Ann. She is Thomas Brown’s half-sister. Note under Expenses: “Grates etc. in School House from J.Brown. Oxford.” This would be John Beck Brown, ironmonger trading in Oxford Cornmarket. He is Thomas Brown’s younger brother. Elizabeth Bottrell’s marriage: Piddington: 5th May 1859 Charles Brown, of full age, Widower, Farmer, Bicester. Father: late John Brown & Elizabeth Mary Bottrill, a Minor, Spinster, Piddington. Father: late William Bottrill George and Sarah Parrott’s household: (based on 1861 census)
The Tea Party: Again, discovered just four weeks ago. |
Found hanging in the stables: Bicester Herald Friday 14th January 1859 Self Destruction at Piddington David Jarvis, carpenter, Ludgershall, a person of about 70 years of age, was, on the 28th of December, found hanging, and dead, in the stables at the Seven Stars Inn, at Piddington. He had been, on the previous night, drinking at the house, and left at about 11 o’clock, for, as it was supposed, a friend’s house at Boarstall. He was not again seen till found by Mr Maycock, the landlord, at about 12 the next day. Mark Burgess thieving again: Oxford Journal Saturday 30th April 1859 Police Office, April 26 – Before Captain Style, R.N. – Mark Burgess, of Brill, charged by Catherine Busby of Piddington, with having, on the 21st April instant, feloniously stolen 13lbs. weight of bacon, of the value of 8s., her property; committed for trial. In the Stars that night they would not have known the result of the trial: Oxford Journal 2nd July 1859 reporting on the trial of prisoners at Oxford Crown Court Tuesday 28th June Mark Burgess, aged 41, labourer, was charged with stealing 31 lbs. of bacon, the property of Catherine Busby, at Piddington on the 21st of April 1859. He pleaded guilty. There were two previous convictions against the prisoner, and he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. *The compositor at the Oxford Journal made a mistake on of the weight of the bacon in one of the editions! Mark Burgess returned to Piddington on his release. Charles & Isaac Reynolds:
Author’s Notes The History of Oxfordshire “Bullingdon Hundred” narrative of Piddington School states “A new building was said in 1887 to have been erected in 1863 with accommodation for 100 children.” This date has however been quoted widely since publication in 1957. I have known for many years that the 1863 date was not correct. The schoolmaster’s wife Barbara Green gave birth to young Albert in the summer of 1860. Finding newspaper reports relating to the building and opening of the school in 1858 and 1859 has provided further confirmation. At one time I thought that the 1863 date could relate to an “official opening” of the school, sometime after its operation commenced. I have found nothing relating to the school opening at that time but unearthed the newspaper articles shown above. I have found one event that took place in the school room in January 1863. It is described as “the second annual gathering.” This was a very interesting event, more of which another day. The transcript of parish records shows the opening date of the school: 5th September 1859. This is supported by further transcripts of the school accounts showing income, donations, and expenditure from 1859 for each year to 1869. The diary has to date covered a period of 9 years. I have reached the milestone of the school’s opening. I am now giving myself an extended break from the diary. I will continue with the research and hopefully return to recount many more tales of Piddington. Albert Einstein's quotation is very apt, “The more I learn, the more I realise how much I don’t know.” I still have a long way to go. Over the last few months, I have built about a dozen family trees for different families and their relations by marriage. Given so much intermarriage within the parish I have fallen foul of the same people appearing on two or more different family trees. I have now consolidated these new trees with others I have built over many years following the lives of the families who lived and worked in the wheelwrights and their relations. I now have one single file covering 145 different surnames and 694 individuals. I have named this “Piddington People.” David Cook 18th July 2020 |