Comberbach School Log Book 1877 - 1878
Extracts from the original held by Cheshire Record Office
Notes made by June Parker and Lyn McCulloch
1877
Feb 16 Mr Hopkins called
Feb 23 'Sorry to say there is a new case of fever this week.'
May 4 'Several children out of village.'
June 15 Scripture Examination
Aug 24 'Tea-party in village given by Mr Clarke.'
Sept 28 Lady de Tabley called after school and promised to come again.'
Oct 19 'Several cases of whooping cough.'
Nov 30 'Bad coughs.'
1878
Jan 18 'Tea-party at Hall.'
Feb 22 'Several bad coughs.'
Mar 22 ' Two children from Anderton admitted.'
Apr 5 'Few cases of whooping cough. Children much better.'
Apr 19 Good Friday holiday
'Lady Mary promised to give prizes to the best children when she returns to Marbury.'
May 10 Scripture Inspection
June 14 'Holiday given yesterday on account of a Bazaar being held at Marbury Hall
July 12 'School closed for 3 week holiday.'
Aug 5 'School reopened.'
Aug 6 Vicar of Great Budworth (Rev Wm Robert Lyon Bennett)
' School still not in a satisfactory state as regards the attainments of the infants or children above 7. Arithmetic and spelling were both very weak subjects and reading not more than fair. If the school cannot be limited to infants it would be advisable to give the Mistress some assistance.
My Lords have ordered the grant to be reduced by one-tenth under Article 32(b) for defective instruction.
If scholars over 10 are retained, a larger proportion of those qualified by attendances should be presented in the 3rd standard next year.
Sept 27 'Lady Mary and Mr Smith-Barry visited the school Tuesday last and promised assistance would be given.'
Oct 18 'Few cases of measles.'
Oct 25 'Children still sick.'
Nov 8 'Holiday. Playground being repaired
Nov 15 'New cases of measles.'
Dec
Showing posts with label Marbury Hall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marbury Hall. Show all posts
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Sunday, 18 November 2007
More of George Robinson's Memories
More of George Robinson's Memories
The Marbury Estate was sold in 1932. The sales brochure shows that there was only one farm left. Tom Walker was the occupant of Ivy Lodge Farm and the rent was £26 per annum.
The population of the village in the 1930s was about 300. The village bobby was called Constable Bligh and he lived where Mrs Iosson lives now. (Lavernock, Marbury Road)
On Armistice Day, which was always November 11th, the schoolchildren all stood at the windows as the service took place at the war memorial. Bill Acton (Edith Fuller's uncle) would play 'The Last Post' on his bugle.
Mrs Cox was the only teacher and she lived in the schoolhouse.
In 1933 Marbury Hall became a country club and was opened by Lord Delamere. Lots of cars came through the village which was very exciting for all the young boys as there weren't that many cars then. There was an airstrip at Marbury and people would fly in to go to the country club. The local boys got 2/6 a round, caddying on the country club golf course.
During the war troops arrived straight from Dunkirk. The men asked where they were, as they had no idea. They jumped naked into the swimming pool and gave chocolate to the local lads.
In the 1940s Marbury became a training camp. When people were called up they came to Marbury and did 'square-bashing' on the roads. They had no uniforms - just gas masks. In the field opposite Home Farm you can see the zigzags where the troops dug trenches.
The soldiers fired mortar bombs into the mere. The Fleet Air Arm at Appleton had a target in the middle of the mere and George and his pals used to love watching them.
A special centre was built near Ideal Gardens to house the Italian prisoners of war. They cycled to work. The village boys used to collect willow for them to make into baskets.
In 1941 the air raids got worse. There was an air-raid shelter just outside the Memorial Hall and although several bombs fell on the village none went off. There may still be one up Cogshall Lane somewhere!
When George was young times were hard. His dad was unemployed and there was a means test for the dole. The rent for the house on the Moss where he was born was 3/- a week. There was no water and no electricity in the house and the toilet was 15 yards away. They used to go in pairs with a candle! They ate meat only once a week and a rabbit pie would be a special treat.
During the war George delivered milk twice a day for Yearsleys at Hollybush Farm. He was about eleven or twelve.
In the 1950s when George lived at 32 Mather Drive there was a bad thunderstorm and the Goosebrook flooded. He waded in to rescue a rabbit!
George's brother in law was in the police force and he was the first member of the family to have a radio.
In 1921 Lord Barrymore donated land for the Bowling Green, Memorial Hall and Recreation Field. We had one team in The Mid-Cheshire League in 1936. Now we have three. The Bowls Pavilion used to be a storage hut. It cost £16-17-6. Lord Crichton Stuart and Roscoe Brunner of Belmont Hall were Vice-Presidents and Roscoe Brunner gave £100 to the Bowls Club.
The opening ceremony was on August 27th 1922. Lord Barrymore opened the Recreation Field and Roscoe Brunner the War Memorial.
During the war the bowling green was neglected. The grass was about a foot high! Horses were used to mow it later and now it is one of the best in the district.
Maurice Jones used to visit George's sister. Maurice was once playing with Jimmy Gill, an evacuee (he lived at Smithy House where Coxeys live now) down at Marbury Mill. The brook was dammed and Maurice fell in. Jimmy pulled him out.
Mrs White lived at Marbury Mill then. Threshing machines would come round to each farm; the corn would be stored and then taken to the mill.
Most of the evacuees in the village came from Liverpool.
The present Post Office was a chip shop. It was coal fired. You could wait for two hours. When the Americans came they would buy £1 worth of chips. The average wage was £3 a week in those days! There was a supper bar and you could eat inside. Chips were 3d a portion.
One of George's friends cut off all the prongs on the forks. He used to make pliers in Warrington! The actual shop was where the post box is now.
Pimblott's cottage was next to Hollybush farm. George used to be called 'Spud' like Spud Pimblott.
Mount Pleasant (now Jenny Underwoods) was the Tailors Shop.
There was a Cobbler's alongside Comberbach Hall, next to Percival's Garage.
Lily Millington's shop was a wooden shop on the corner of Senna Lane and Warrington Road. Called Top of Town it was a focal point as it was light. The boys used to swap cigarette cards there and it was always busy, especially in summer when the cycle clubs would call. The cyclists would sit on the grass and drink pop from the shop which you bought by the glass. Lily took the money home in an Oxo tin.
Lily knew everyone. George's brother John went into the shop one day and drank from a pop bottle. It was vinegar! There were wasps but no one ever killed them. 'If you kill one wasp three will come to its funeral,' was the saying.
George lived in Cogshall Lane later on. He got the 10 past 8 bus to Barnton.
During the war the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) were known as 'Look, Duck and Vanish' to the local lads. The ARP was irreverently referred to as 'Arsin' round Pubs'. There used to be someone on duty at Mulberry House in a room at the back of the house, up some steps.
There used to be a dentist in the village. He took out Frank Jones' teeth (Edna's husband) in a bucket and then moved to Betwys y Coed, sending the teeth on.
Bert Evans, who was killed in the war, had a bomb dropped on his garden. He went to the ARP warden and knocked on his door only to be told, "I'm not on duty tonight. You'd better go and see Mr - - - -."
The doctor lived at Hawthorn Cottage (now White's). He was the first person in the village to have a TV.
The Marbury Estate was sold in 1932. The sales brochure shows that there was only one farm left. Tom Walker was the occupant of Ivy Lodge Farm and the rent was £26 per annum.
The population of the village in the 1930s was about 300. The village bobby was called Constable Bligh and he lived where Mrs Iosson lives now. (Lavernock, Marbury Road)
On Armistice Day, which was always November 11th, the schoolchildren all stood at the windows as the service took place at the war memorial. Bill Acton (Edith Fuller's uncle) would play 'The Last Post' on his bugle.
Mrs Cox was the only teacher and she lived in the schoolhouse.
In 1933 Marbury Hall became a country club and was opened by Lord Delamere. Lots of cars came through the village which was very exciting for all the young boys as there weren't that many cars then. There was an airstrip at Marbury and people would fly in to go to the country club. The local boys got 2/6 a round, caddying on the country club golf course.
During the war troops arrived straight from Dunkirk. The men asked where they were, as they had no idea. They jumped naked into the swimming pool and gave chocolate to the local lads.
In the 1940s Marbury became a training camp. When people were called up they came to Marbury and did 'square-bashing' on the roads. They had no uniforms - just gas masks. In the field opposite Home Farm you can see the zigzags where the troops dug trenches.
The soldiers fired mortar bombs into the mere. The Fleet Air Arm at Appleton had a target in the middle of the mere and George and his pals used to love watching them.
A special centre was built near Ideal Gardens to house the Italian prisoners of war. They cycled to work. The village boys used to collect willow for them to make into baskets.
In 1941 the air raids got worse. There was an air-raid shelter just outside the Memorial Hall and although several bombs fell on the village none went off. There may still be one up Cogshall Lane somewhere!
When George was young times were hard. His dad was unemployed and there was a means test for the dole. The rent for the house on the Moss where he was born was 3/- a week. There was no water and no electricity in the house and the toilet was 15 yards away. They used to go in pairs with a candle! They ate meat only once a week and a rabbit pie would be a special treat.
During the war George delivered milk twice a day for Yearsleys at Hollybush Farm. He was about eleven or twelve.
In the 1950s when George lived at 32 Mather Drive there was a bad thunderstorm and the Goosebrook flooded. He waded in to rescue a rabbit!
George's brother in law was in the police force and he was the first member of the family to have a radio.
In 1921 Lord Barrymore donated land for the Bowling Green, Memorial Hall and Recreation Field. We had one team in The Mid-Cheshire League in 1936. Now we have three. The Bowls Pavilion used to be a storage hut. It cost £16-17-6. Lord Crichton Stuart and Roscoe Brunner of Belmont Hall were Vice-Presidents and Roscoe Brunner gave £100 to the Bowls Club.
The opening ceremony was on August 27th 1922. Lord Barrymore opened the Recreation Field and Roscoe Brunner the War Memorial.
During the war the bowling green was neglected. The grass was about a foot high! Horses were used to mow it later and now it is one of the best in the district.
Maurice Jones used to visit George's sister. Maurice was once playing with Jimmy Gill, an evacuee (he lived at Smithy House where Coxeys live now) down at Marbury Mill. The brook was dammed and Maurice fell in. Jimmy pulled him out.
Mrs White lived at Marbury Mill then. Threshing machines would come round to each farm; the corn would be stored and then taken to the mill.
Most of the evacuees in the village came from Liverpool.
The present Post Office was a chip shop. It was coal fired. You could wait for two hours. When the Americans came they would buy £1 worth of chips. The average wage was £3 a week in those days! There was a supper bar and you could eat inside. Chips were 3d a portion.
One of George's friends cut off all the prongs on the forks. He used to make pliers in Warrington! The actual shop was where the post box is now.
Pimblott's cottage was next to Hollybush farm. George used to be called 'Spud' like Spud Pimblott.
Mount Pleasant (now Jenny Underwoods) was the Tailors Shop.
There was a Cobbler's alongside Comberbach Hall, next to Percival's Garage.
Lily Millington's shop was a wooden shop on the corner of Senna Lane and Warrington Road. Called Top of Town it was a focal point as it was light. The boys used to swap cigarette cards there and it was always busy, especially in summer when the cycle clubs would call. The cyclists would sit on the grass and drink pop from the shop which you bought by the glass. Lily took the money home in an Oxo tin.
Lily knew everyone. George's brother John went into the shop one day and drank from a pop bottle. It was vinegar! There were wasps but no one ever killed them. 'If you kill one wasp three will come to its funeral,' was the saying.
George lived in Cogshall Lane later on. He got the 10 past 8 bus to Barnton.
During the war the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV) were known as 'Look, Duck and Vanish' to the local lads. The ARP was irreverently referred to as 'Arsin' round Pubs'. There used to be someone on duty at Mulberry House in a room at the back of the house, up some steps.
There used to be a dentist in the village. He took out Frank Jones' teeth (Edna's husband) in a bucket and then moved to Betwys y Coed, sending the teeth on.
Bert Evans, who was killed in the war, had a bomb dropped on his garden. He went to the ARP warden and knocked on his door only to be told, "I'm not on duty tonight. You'd better go and see Mr - - - -."
The doctor lived at Hawthorn Cottage (now White's). He was the first person in the village to have a TV.
George Robinson's memories of life in Comberbach during the 1930s and 1940s
Some of the houses in Comberbach were thatched cottages.
George's Mother had two girls with her first husband and five children with her second husband. The family lived in a house on the Moss. There was no running water. There was only cold water and no electricity. Sometimes the family had rabbit pie to eat. Times were hard. George was born in the house on the Moss in 1927.
In those days you went to the village school until you were eight and then to Winnington, Great Budworth, Barnton, Rudheath or Antrobus which became popular in later years. George walked to Winnington, past the Anderton Lift and over the swing bridge, to school, every day.
In the 1930s there was a really bad depression. Jobs were scarce. George used to run errands such as collecting paraffin oil. The radio ran on a battery and George would get a wet battery accumulator from Cyril Johnson.
The War started in 1939 and in 1940 George's father died. Three of the children were still at school so George got a job delivering milk to supplement the family income. Holly Bush Farm was where the British Telecom Exchange is now. He delivered milk before going to school to Anderton Post Office and the village and again in the evening to the village.
Mr Cox had 30 to 40 pupils at the school. George used to go home for his dinner, as there were no school dinners in those days.
Milk was 2 1/2d a bottle. In the summer holidays George enjoyed rides on the horse drawn carts to and from the cornfields on Woodcocks Farm. Actual holidays were non-existent. The seaside was only seen on Sunday school outings. Lots of horses were shoed at the Smithy.
In 1935 the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary was celebrated and in 1937 the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Before the war Marbury Estate was beautiful. There was a fence right round the perimeter. Lots of village folk worked there. George's Grandma was a maid and his Grandfather was a groom to Lord Barrymore. He would drive Lord Barrymore in his trap to Hartford station to catch the train to London.
George and his friends knew the story of the Marbury Lady. His Grandma never saw the ghost despite coming home very late after balls and other social events. His Grandfather thought he did, once.
Some of the chaps from the village used to go and play cards with the men who lived in the bothies at Marbury Hall. George's uncle was there one night when the clock in the courtyard struck twelve midnight and a lady walked past. They all said, "Goodnight" but she did not reply. One of the uncle's friends said he'd catch up with the lady and see her safely home. He never did catch up with her so they all decided it must have been the ghost of The Marbury Lady.
George's Auntie Lena knew where the 'mummy' was. The supposed Egyptian Princess who had been rejected as a bride by one of the Barrymore family swore that she would never leave Marbury until 'holly wasn't green'. When she died she was buried at Great Budworth. Such strange things happened at Marbury Hall that the body was brought back to Marbury and buried in the rose garden.
One of George's pals was coming home in his car through Marbury Hollows one night and saw a lady in evening dress. He stopped and turned the headlights off and the lady was not there. Stuart Hubbard thought he saw the ghost once but it could have been someone playing a joke. It wasn't unknown for the locals to dress up and pretend to be The Marbury Lady.
To be continued..........
George's Mother had two girls with her first husband and five children with her second husband. The family lived in a house on the Moss. There was no running water. There was only cold water and no electricity. Sometimes the family had rabbit pie to eat. Times were hard. George was born in the house on the Moss in 1927.
In those days you went to the village school until you were eight and then to Winnington, Great Budworth, Barnton, Rudheath or Antrobus which became popular in later years. George walked to Winnington, past the Anderton Lift and over the swing bridge, to school, every day.
In the 1930s there was a really bad depression. Jobs were scarce. George used to run errands such as collecting paraffin oil. The radio ran on a battery and George would get a wet battery accumulator from Cyril Johnson.
The War started in 1939 and in 1940 George's father died. Three of the children were still at school so George got a job delivering milk to supplement the family income. Holly Bush Farm was where the British Telecom Exchange is now. He delivered milk before going to school to Anderton Post Office and the village and again in the evening to the village.
Mr Cox had 30 to 40 pupils at the school. George used to go home for his dinner, as there were no school dinners in those days.
Milk was 2 1/2d a bottle. In the summer holidays George enjoyed rides on the horse drawn carts to and from the cornfields on Woodcocks Farm. Actual holidays were non-existent. The seaside was only seen on Sunday school outings. Lots of horses were shoed at the Smithy.
In 1935 the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary was celebrated and in 1937 the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Before the war Marbury Estate was beautiful. There was a fence right round the perimeter. Lots of village folk worked there. George's Grandma was a maid and his Grandfather was a groom to Lord Barrymore. He would drive Lord Barrymore in his trap to Hartford station to catch the train to London.
George and his friends knew the story of the Marbury Lady. His Grandma never saw the ghost despite coming home very late after balls and other social events. His Grandfather thought he did, once.
Some of the chaps from the village used to go and play cards with the men who lived in the bothies at Marbury Hall. George's uncle was there one night when the clock in the courtyard struck twelve midnight and a lady walked past. They all said, "Goodnight" but she did not reply. One of the uncle's friends said he'd catch up with the lady and see her safely home. He never did catch up with her so they all decided it must have been the ghost of The Marbury Lady.
George's Auntie Lena knew where the 'mummy' was. The supposed Egyptian Princess who had been rejected as a bride by one of the Barrymore family swore that she would never leave Marbury until 'holly wasn't green'. When she died she was buried at Great Budworth. Such strange things happened at Marbury Hall that the body was brought back to Marbury and buried in the rose garden.
One of George's pals was coming home in his car through Marbury Hollows one night and saw a lady in evening dress. He stopped and turned the headlights off and the lady was not there. Stuart Hubbard thought he saw the ghost once but it could have been someone playing a joke. It wasn't unknown for the locals to dress up and pretend to be The Marbury Lady.
To be continued..........
Thursday, 23 August 2007
More Chat with Mrs Ethel Foster nee Hayes 1992
3rd March 1992
Me: Can you tell me any more about the families that lived in Comberbach?
Ethel: I remember Elsie Whitby from Uplands, Anderton. She was George Robinson’s Mother. She married a Joseph Radcliffe from Great Budworth in 1914. He was a friend of my father’s and had the Smithy on the Moss. They had two girls – Gladys and Margaret. Later on, in 1919 Elsie married John Robinson.
Me: Does your brother Charles live in Comberbach?
Ethel: Yes, he lives in the last house on the right going up Senna Lane. It used to be called Providence House but now it’s called Brookside.
Me: Did you know Hilda Evans’ father?
Ethel: John Henry Thurlwell was Batman to Roscoe Brunner and was killed in Richmond Park, London, while he was exercising a horse. Hilda’s Mother was left with seven children. I used to help her look after them although I was only a child myself. I took two of them to have their tonsils removed!
Me: Did you know Philip Rayner?
Ethel: Oh, yes! I remember Phil coming to live in the village. The Rayners built the house on the corner of Meadow Lane and Senna Lane. His father was married twice – to two sisters! (Note : Harry Rayner married Fanny Dibben in 1900 and Ellen V. Dibben in 1911)
Me: Did any of the Hayes family work at Marbury Hall?
Ethel: My Aunt Lizzie was the Housekeeper at Marbury Hall. An Irish Family had it and they had a house in Ireland and a house in Grosvenor Square, London. They only came here for ‘cub hunting’, in the winter. The staff were paid for the whole year, though.
Me: Did your Aunt Lizzie live at Marbury Hall, then?
Ethel: No. She rented what is now called ‘Gamekeeper’s Cottage’ on Marbury Road. It should really be called ‘Housekeeper’s Cottage’, you know!
Me: Any other village characters that you remember?
Ethel: There was old Mrs Platt who lived in one of the cottages on Senna Lane, where Barrons live now. The door was always open. She was bedridden and everyone would pop in and see if she needed anything.
Me: What about the rest of your family/
Ethel: My Uncle Tom Hayes settled at Wincham. He had nine children.
Me: Mrs Foster, thank you for sharing all your memories of Comberbach. I have really enjoyed our chat.
Me: Can you tell me any more about the families that lived in Comberbach?
Ethel: I remember Elsie Whitby from Uplands, Anderton. She was George Robinson’s Mother. She married a Joseph Radcliffe from Great Budworth in 1914. He was a friend of my father’s and had the Smithy on the Moss. They had two girls – Gladys and Margaret. Later on, in 1919 Elsie married John Robinson.
Me: Does your brother Charles live in Comberbach?
Ethel: Yes, he lives in the last house on the right going up Senna Lane. It used to be called Providence House but now it’s called Brookside.
Me: Did you know Hilda Evans’ father?
Ethel: John Henry Thurlwell was Batman to Roscoe Brunner and was killed in Richmond Park, London, while he was exercising a horse. Hilda’s Mother was left with seven children. I used to help her look after them although I was only a child myself. I took two of them to have their tonsils removed!
Me: Did you know Philip Rayner?
Ethel: Oh, yes! I remember Phil coming to live in the village. The Rayners built the house on the corner of Meadow Lane and Senna Lane. His father was married twice – to two sisters! (Note : Harry Rayner married Fanny Dibben in 1900 and Ellen V. Dibben in 1911)
Me: Did any of the Hayes family work at Marbury Hall?
Ethel: My Aunt Lizzie was the Housekeeper at Marbury Hall. An Irish Family had it and they had a house in Ireland and a house in Grosvenor Square, London. They only came here for ‘cub hunting’, in the winter. The staff were paid for the whole year, though.
Me: Did your Aunt Lizzie live at Marbury Hall, then?
Ethel: No. She rented what is now called ‘Gamekeeper’s Cottage’ on Marbury Road. It should really be called ‘Housekeeper’s Cottage’, you know!
Me: Any other village characters that you remember?
Ethel: There was old Mrs Platt who lived in one of the cottages on Senna Lane, where Barrons live now. The door was always open. She was bedridden and everyone would pop in and see if she needed anything.
Me: What about the rest of your family/
Ethel: My Uncle Tom Hayes settled at Wincham. He had nine children.
Me: Mrs Foster, thank you for sharing all your memories of Comberbach. I have really enjoyed our chat.
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