Photograph Album - Downs School for Young Ladies, Seaford 1910's
still life by Ben Franks

This project resulted from the acquisition of a photograph album (pictured above) containing over 80 images from a camera group at the Downs School for Young Ladies in Seaford during and just prior to WW1. They described themselves as the "Camera Fiends". 

The term "camera fiend" originated around 1900 to describe people armed with such newly mobile cameras as Kodak's Brownie. Otherwise from a 1911 murder mystery by E.W. Hornung who's main character is a boy on leave from a boarding school.

The album starts with Michaelmas Term (Oct to Dec) 1913 and goes up to Summer Term 1915. The school terms were 'Lent' (Jan to Mar), 'Easter'/'Summer' (Apr to Jun) and, Michaelmas (Oct to mid-Dec). Each term was about 12 weeks long. 

I will be sharing these photographs and some other images to include the names of the photographers and pictured students and staff. We can take a look at life at a school for young ladies who were a mixture of boarders and day students from wealthy families from all over the country. 

We will also consider the lives of the school, live-in, servants shown in the 1911 census as a parlour maid, a kitchen maid and two house maids. One of the house maids, at 15 years of age, was younger than many of the students. Also among the non-teaching staff are the matron and housekeeper. 

The camera group were invited to the Parade of the newly trained troops in front of Lord Kitchener in 1915. Two photographs of the occasion are included in the album. I had not previously seen an image recording the event. 

Imagine the possibility that photographs of this event, including the closeup of Lord Kitchener in his car, as mentioned by Alba Windham in the school magazine have survived in family albums. It would be wonderful to see them and others of life at the school even after all this time! 

What, if any, were the interactions between thousands of trainee soldiers and the girls and boys at the thirty or so private and state schools in and near to Seaford during and just before WW1.

Schools in Seaford Area during the period 1910 to 1920: 

No	School Name	BoysGirls  Coed	Year From	Year To	Location
1	Boys Primary Sch. (State)	Boys	1859	1996	National Sch.,71, Steyne Road
2	Girls Primary Sch. (State)	Girls	1879	1990	43-45, Church Street
3	Queens Park Girls Sch.	Girls	1903	1929	35, Claremont Road
4	Homeleigh Gentlemen’s Sch.	Boys	1899	1933	2, Southdown Road
5	Pelham House Sch.	Girls	1901	1932	68-70, Claremont Road
6	Chesterton School for Boys	Boys	1911	1961	Sussex House & Royal Naval College, Eastbourne Road
7	Annecy Convent Sch.	Girls	1904	1978	9-11 Sutton Avenue and Beachcroft, Southdown Road.
8	Downs Ladies Sch.	Girls	1901	1964	(Redcroft 01-04) - Sutton Road
9	West Cliffe Sch.	Boys	1905	1935	Surrey Road
10	Lexden House Prep. Sch.	Boys	1905	1924	Firle Road
11	St. Peter’s Prep. Sch.	Boys	1907	1982	Alfriston Road
12	Seaford Ladies College	Girls	1906	1953	Eastbourne Road
13	Southlands House Ladies	Girls	1911	1934	Firle Road
14	St. Wilfrid's Boys Sch.	Boys	1912	1973	South Lodge, Sutton Avenue
15	Newlands Sch.	boys	1908	2014	Eastbourne Road
16	Ladycross Boys Prep. Sch.	Boys	1909	1977	Eastbourne Road
17	Bowden House Boys Sch.	Boys	1910	1938	Firle Road
18	Ravens Croft / Micklefield Sch.	Girls	1909	1994	Sutton Avenue
19	Stoke House Boys Prep. Sch.	Boys	1912	1965	Manor Road
20	St. David’s / Hamilton House	Boys	1912	1919	Rougemont, Belgrave Road
21	Tyttenhanger Lodge Prep. Sch.	Boys	1914	1963	Sutton Avenue
22	Kings Mead Prep. Sch.	Boys	1914	1968	Belgrave Road
23	Southdown Prep. Sch.	Boys	1914	1950	Firle Road
24	Southlands Ladies Sch.	Girls	1914	1934	Firle Road
25	Gateways Sch.	Coed	1916	1948	St. John’s Hall, Wilmington Road
26	Gladleigh / Westdown Road	Coed	1911	1933	15, Westdown Road
27	Infants Primary Sch. (State)	Coed	1889	1990	47-49, Church Street
28	Seaford College	Boys	1884	1942	Corsica Hall, College Road
29	St. Mawes Sch.	Boys	1895	1917	15, Belgrave Road
30	Blatchington Place Sch.	Boys	1895	1921	10, Homefield Road
31	Merton House Sch.	Boys	1910	1913	Hartfield Road
32	Bishopstone National Sch. (state)	Coed	1849	1940+	Bishopstone

Schools extract (1910 - 1920) taken from comprehensive list kindly provided by Charlie Grimble. 

This Blog is WORK IN PROGRESS and I will be adding to it over the next weeks and months.

Let me introduce you to the Girls and the staff:

Downs School Photograph - 1915
by courtesy of Ben Franks

1915 School Photograph:

Back Row (LtoR): Betty Tayler, Molly McAlpin, Helen Liddel, Gwynedd Roberts, Joy Godfrey-Foussett, V. (Letty) Stack, Alba Windham, Margaret McAfee, Adela Lawford, Audrey Lambe, D Vickers, Eileen Bennett.

Second (from back) Row: J. Morgan, Elizabeth Knight, Dinah Synge, Maisie Gervis, A Vickers, Elizabeth Rooth, Margaret Tayler, Mary Riley (or Reily), Hilary Kellock, Betty Howard, N. Chard, Ruby Bradshaw, A. Koskinas.

Third Row (from back): T. Koskinas, Miss Hobbs, Miss Langley, Miss Wild, Mlle. Thinon del le Troche, Miss Cameron (headmistress), Miss Stegall, Miss Croft, Miss Humphreys, Miss French.

Front Row: Joan McAfee, M. Ponsonby, L. Livingstone, Elizabeth (Betty) Jack, Betty Hazell, Barbara Hurst, Barbara Barton, Laura or Lorna Gervis, Peggy Synge, Margo Knapp, Winnifred Synge, Chris Tayler, Betty Southam, K Edmonds, Peggy Stack.

School Photo - Closeup

The Downs Ladies School was founded by Miss Lucy Robinson at 'Redcroft' in Sutton Road, on the corner of Southdown Road, in 1901. It moved to Sutton Road, on the corner of Alfriston Road, in September 1904. Miss Lucretia Cameron joined the staff in 1913 and became headmistress in January 1914 following the retirement of Miss Robinson.

A new hall, also used as a gymnasium and a dining room, was built in 1913. 'Tower House' opened as a junior house for under 14 girls in 1915. 'Maitland' opened for girls specialising in modern languages, domestic science and music in 1916. 'Bydown' was added in 1918.

    By 1915 the names of the students and staff have largely changed from the 1911 census. The census would have shown those that remained at the school (largely boarders) whereas day students will have been recorded at their home addresses. The census also shows the remaining teachers and other live-in staff including servants. The following table compares the school student list to the census:

 Comparison between 1911 Census and School List 

Downs School for Young Ladies, Seaford 

Key: A = Age, Rs = Relationship, MS = Marital Status, Occ = Occupation, H = Head, B = Boarder, Sv = Servant, S = Single, Sg = Schoolgirl, HM = Headmistress, Hk = Housekeeper, Mt = Matron, Pm = Parlour Maid, Km = Kitchen Maid, Hm = House Maid, PM = Physical Culture Mistress, * = On census/not on school list 

No.	Name on Census	A	Rs	MS	Occ	Home Address / Birthplace
1	Robinson, Lucy	43	H	S	HM	B. Preston Lancs
2	Young, Amy Mary	41	B	S	EM	B. London S.E.
3	Bagot-Corbett, Evelyn	36	B	S	Mt	B. Oswestry Salop
4	Hawkins, Honoria	32	B	S	Hk	B. Eaton Bishop Herts
5	Hurry, Maria E.	22	B	S	PM	B. Florida USA (Nat'lty - English)
6	Wood, Lucy M.	18	B	S	Sg	Southport, Grove House
7	Toller, Pauline	17	B	S	Sg	Kettering, The Crossways
8	Sayer, Sibella Margaret	17	B	S	Sg	Charing Kent, Clear Mount
9	Kessler, Nora Jean (Jean)	17	B	S	Sg	Fallowfield Manchester, Fernlea
10	Gray, Agneta A.	17	B	S	Sg	Stamford Lincs, St Mary’s Hill
11	Roberts, Agnes Hallam	16	B	S	Sg	Cobham Surrey, Flexland's
12	Lloyd Ainslie, Muriel (See 36 - Amy Muriel Spink)*	16	B	S	Sg
13	Mackintosh, Cecilia B.	15	B	S	Sg	Stockport Whaleybridge, Kinrara
14	Paterson, Doris M.	15	B	S	Sg	Southampton,12 Brunswick Pl,
15	Pemberton, Clarissa H.	15	B	S	Sg	Banbury Oxon, Linden Hse
16	Drake-Brockman, Constance	16	B	S	Sg	Darnley Rd Gravesend, Cheriton
17	Webb, Marjory C.	16	B	S	Sg	S. Hampstead, King Henry's Rd.
18	John, Doris M.	16	B	S	Sg	Upton Hants, Ivyholme
19	Tayler, Winifred (Frances)*	16	B	S	Sg	Stanton St Bernard Pewsey, Wilts.
20	Cooke, Doris P.V.	16	B	S	Sg	3 Portland Court W.
21	Clare, Phyllis	16	B	S	Sg	E. Twickenham, Meadowside
22	Bramall, Nancy M.	15	B	S	Sg	Highbury New Pk  Ldn, Fairlawn
23	Tayler, Margaret	14	B		Sg	Stanton St Bernard Pewsey, Wilts.
24	Cook, Daphne	13	B		Sg	3 Portland Court W.
25	Spooner, Mary	12	B		Sg	S. Norwood S.E., Dalswinton
26	Bennett, Eileen A.	12	B		Sg	Elham S.O. Norfolk, Gately Hse
27	Tayler, Betty D.	11	B		Sg	Stanton St Bernard Pewsey, Wilts
28	Debley, Alice S.	18	Sv	S	Pm	B. St. Leonard’s on Sea
29	Howith, Alice M.	20	Sv	S	Km	B. Brighton
30	Knight, Annie M.	17	Sv	S	Hm	B. London
31	Mace, Ardola K.	15	Sv	S	Hm	B. Plaistow, Essex
	Additional Names on School List
32	Holmes, Ethel				Sg	Southwold S’folk, Sunset House
33	Child Sylvia				Sg	Cobham Surrey, The Crossways
34	Dutton, Barbara				Sg	New Ferry Chshre, Thorburn Rd.
35	Lockwood, Madeline				Sg	Farnham Bucks, The Old House
36	Spink, Muriel (See 12.)				Sg	E. Twickenham, Willoughby Hse
37	Anson, Gertrude				Sg	Keswick Cumbria, Bristowe Hill
38	Brooks, Erica				Sg	St. Alban’s Herts, Cedarhurst
39	Salter, Hilary				Sg	Walton on Thames Sy, Rye House
40	Meggison, Dorothy				Sg	Seaford Sx, Crypt House
41	Morgan, Eileen				Sg	Seaford Sx, Rostrevor
42	Conradi, Catherine				Sg	Seaford Sx, Heathfield Rd.
43	Bowyer, Edith				Sg	Seaford Sx, Tower House
44	Stack, Violet				Sg	Seaford Sx, The Star House
45
46
47
48
49

 Note: 12 and 36 we believe are the same girl (based on contact from relative)

The the main School Building (not from album):

Downs School (Front)

Downs School (Rear)

In addition to the album Seaford Museum has a collection of the school magazines bound into books for the period from 1909 to 1959 plus 1962 and 1963. These tell us a lot more about the life in the school and indeed what happened to leavers as a results of reports from members of the "old girls club." 

The photographs were collected and stuck into an Album by a member of the Howard family who received them from "B. H." This was probably Elizabeth (Betty) Howard starting on the October 7th 1913. The first page identifies that it is Michaelmas Term.

 

Individual photographs quite often show the photographers' initials and invariably records the first names of those pictured and sometimes the form numbers. At least six different cameras have been used as can be seen from the size of the 'contact' prints. 

It seems reasonable to suppose that much of the developing and printing was done in a makeshift darkroom in the school as suggested in the still life at the top of the page. Alternatively, they could have been processed at a day students' house or even at the local chemist's darkroom if they provided this service.

Many of the pages are foxed and there are plenty of poorly taken or developed photographs.  Nonetheless they are a pictorial record of life at the school.   

Subjects include sports teams and matches mainly Lacrosse, Cricket, Tennis and Hockey, They show trips out on foot, in a wagon or carriage and on cycles and horses. There are pictures of the boarders' rooms, sports day, old girls, a birthday party, gardening, on the beach and Lord Kitchener's visit. Teachers and pets are are also recorded. 

We can work out who some of the 'Camera Fiends' were from their initials compared with the school magazine references as follows: EH - Elizabeth Howard, EK - Elizabeth Knight, ER - Elizabeth or Edith Rooth, EB - Eileen Bennett, HL -  Helen Liddell, MR - Mary Riley, HK - Hilary Kellock, BH - Betty Howard. Many photographs do not record the initials of the photographer but Alba Windham was also a member.

So lets look at page one:

Downs School - Page 1. - 1913

The first page is badly foxed and shows many of the taking and developing problems common with new photographers i.e. camera shake, looking into the sun etc.  The photographer is "E.H." i.e. probably Elizabeth (Betty) Howard. Pictured bottom left (BL) is Betty Tayler along with her sister "Cris [Chris] Taylor" [Tayler]  whereas BR shows Thalia, Eilleen [Eileen} & Gladys gardening. The top photograph is of the front of the school.

Betty and Chris Tayler, Gardening -1913 by E.H.
by courtesy of Ben Franks 

Letty, Gwenedd, Edith, Aileen, Monica & Mary - 1913 by H.L. 

Violet & Monica - 1913 by H.L.

Magaret [Margaret] -1913  by H.L.

Letty, Miss Hurry, Helen
Doris, Eileen, Betty, Gwenedd - 1913 by H.L.

Edith, Betty & Gwenedd on the front field - 1913 by E.H.

Minnie & Eileen on the back field - 1913 by E.H. 

Peggy, Eileen & Marjorie with Rodney on front field - 1913 by E.H.

Match between Roedean and The Downs - 1913 by E.H.?

The 1st XI in front of school - 1913 by E.R.
Standing: Margaret, Violet, Ernestine, Letty, Miriam, Elmore
Sitting: Betty, Betty, Mary, Monica, Edith, Gwenedd

L IV form on front field  - 1913 by E.B.
Standing: Betty, Thalia, Adela, Audrey
Sitting: Maisie, Betty (Dinah in bed with cold!)

Front field - Some of the girls waiting to begin a game - 1913 by E.H.

LENT TERM - 1914:

Betty, Margaret
In chair - Elmore 1914 by M.R.

Back; Monica and Margaret
Front: Edith, Mary, Elmore, Margaret -1914 by M.R.

Joyce B. Dutton - March 29th, 1914

Edith Rooth Outside Hall - 1914 by H.K.

Match between "Downs" and "Chesterton" (here) - 1914 by H.K.

Hockey IV with Miss Hobbs - 1914

 

Match between "St. Peters" & "Downs" (here) - 1914 by M.R.

SCHOOL LIST, EASTER TERM, 1915. 

Downs School for Young Ladies  

Key: Entry Term: L = Lent Term, Easter [Summer], Michaelmas + Years 1908/11/12/13/14/15 

 

RefNo	Name	Form	Entry Term	Home Address
1	Margaret Tayler	VI	L 11	Stanton St. Bernard, Pewsey, Wilts.
2	Edith Rooth	Up Va.	L 13	641 Park Str. Arcadia, Pretoria, Transvaal, S.A.
3	Mary Riley		M 12	West Lodge, Kew Gardens, Surrey.
4	Hilary Kellock		L 14	Stowe Lodge, Watford, Herts.
5	A Vickers		M 13	c/o Miss Cameron, The Downs School, Seaford
6	Elizabeth Knight		M 13	7 Gainsborough Gardens, Hampstead Heath.
7	Eileen Bennett	Up Vb	M 08	The White House, Swanton, Morley, Dereham, Norfolk.
8	Alba Windham		L 14	c/o Bank of Montreal, 9 Waterloo Place, Pall Mall.
9	D. Vickers		M 13	c/o Miss Cameron, The Downs School, Seaford.
10	Violet Stack (Letty)		M 08	The Star House, Seaford, Sussex.
11	Gwynedd Roberts		M 12	Flexlands, Chobham, near Woking, Surrey.
12	Joy Godfrey-Faussett		E 14	Heftesbury, Wiltshire.
13	Helen Liddell		M 12	51 Thurleigh Road, Balham, S.W.
14	Molly McAlpin		M 14	Ardgour, Woodland Avenue, Leicester.
15	Margaret McAfee		E 15	St. George Street, Portman Square, W.
16	Adela Lawford	L.V.	L 13	Seton Lodge, Seaford, Sussex.
17	Elizabeth Howard		M 13	The White House, Heath End, Farnham, Surrey
18	Dinah Synge		M 13	Kelton, Seaford, Sussex.
19	T. Koskina		E 13	24 Pembridge Gardens, W.
20	N. Chard		E 15	The Cottage, Crawley, Sussex.
21	Betty Tayler	Up. IV.	L 11	Stanton St. Bernard, Pewsey, Wilts.
22	Audrey Lambe		E 12	Upper Lodge, Seaford, Sussex.
23	Maisie Gervis		M 13	Hurdis House, Seaford, Sussex.
24	Betty Hazell		E 14	43 Gloucester Road, Regent’s Park, W.
25	Betty Southam		L 15	Ryde House, Richmond Ridge, Twickenham.
26	A Koskina		E 13	24 Pembridge Gardens, W.
27	Ruby Bradshaw		M 14	Ballydevitt House, Aghadowey, Co. Derry.
28	Winnifred Synge	L. IV.	M 13	Kelton, Seaford, Sussex.
29	M. Ponsonby		E 12	1 Stafford House, Maida Vale, London.
30	Monica Stack		L 12	The Star House, Seaford, Sussex.
31	K. Edmonds		L 15	25 Grove Park Gardens, Chiswick.
32	L. Livingstone	III.	M14	Hardwicke House, Seaford, Sussex.
33	Chris Tayler		M 12	Stanton St. Bernard, Pewsey Wilts.
34	J. Morgan		E 14	Kedale Road. Seaford, Sussex
35	Elizabeth (Betty) Jack		L 14	The Moorings, Seaford, Sussex.
36	Margo Knapp	II.	M 14	Greenfield, Seaford, Sussex.
37	Barbara Barton		E 14	Wayside, Seaford. Sussex.
38	Barbara Hurst		L 15	Mill Dene, Seaford, Sussex.
38	Joan McAfee		E 15	29 George Street, Portman Sq, W.
40	Margaret Synge		E 14	Kelton, Seaford, Sussex.
41	Laura Gervis		M 14	Hurdis House, Seaford, Sussex.
42
43
44

 

Elmore, Margaret & Mary on garden seat - by M.R. 

St. Peters & Downs (here)

Myself and Kitten

V Form - Standing: Joy, Miss Hobbs, Alba, Betty
Sitting: Helen, Eileen, Letty, Doris, Gwennedd

Sports - Margaret jumping

Elmore jumping

Summer Term - 1914:

The photographer was from 'Elliott & Fry', Baker Street, London, W. 

The above item (front and back) dated 18/7/1914 appears to be a leaver's momento from their classmates in the form of autographs on a photograph of the school.

The signatures are from teachers E.M. Huggard &  E. L. Packer and fellow students, C.M. Douglas, L. Livingstone, A. Koskinas, E. R. L. Bradshaw, M. Ponsonby, E. Lawford, Joy Godfrey- Faussett, Letty Stack, Betty J. Hazell, L. Gervis, B. Hurst, Jean Kirkaldy Willis 18.7.14, W. F. Synge, M. Knapp and Maisie S. Gervis plus Ella Olbers? and G.M.L. de Ward.. 

Mary, Margaret, Elmore, Hilary, Margaret & Alba

Margaret, Mary & Joyce off for a ride - by R.H.

Elmore, Margaret, Mary with bottle  - by M.R.

Betty, Gwenedd, Edith, Letty, Joy, Margaret & Hilary (after games) 

Alba having turned round at the critical moment 

LEWES -At tea - Helen, Margaret, Elmore, Alba & Miss Huggard

LEWES - At tea - Elmore, Margaret, Edith, Hilary, Miss Huggard & Mary

-

LEWES - Edith Rooth, Alba, Edith  falling

LEWES - Margaret, Elmore, Mary

AT LEWES PRIORY - From  Back: Helen, Edith Rooth, Hilary, Edith B. 
Mary, alba, Elmore, Margaret, Miss Huggard 

AT LEWES PRIORY - Alba, Hilary, Edith R., Edith B., Helen, on the ruins

SPORTS - Obstacle Race

Alba sitting on groyne at Seaford Beach

Group at lunch at Chanctonbury Ring

Miss Cameron at Lunch (Chanctonbury Ring) 

Miss Cameron in Motor

TENNIS - Ravenscroft V's Downs

Tennis Team - Lettie, Margaret & Elmore
Betty & Gwenedd

Tennis - Ravenscroft v's Downs - Edith and Betty (myself)

Lacrosse X1 - Gwenned, Alba, Letty, Margaret B., 
Betty J., Mary, Margaret J, Aileen, Edith,
Betty H.                       Molly McAlpin

The gardens - Downs School

Cricket Team - Letty, Alba, Ernestine, Margaret T., Elmore, Adela
Mary                Minnie
Gwenedd, Betty T. Betty Leaf

Summer Term 1914 - Letty, Margaret T., Elmore
myself           Gwenedd

Lent Term 1915 - Myself, Alba, Miss Hobbs, Letty, Margaret T., Elmore,
Maisie, Minnie, Molly Gwenedd

Summer Term 1915 - Expedition - Tea

Summer Term 1915 - Expedition - The Drivers

Summer Term 1915 - Expedition - Margaret, Mary, Myself, Miss Humphreys, & Alba

Summer Term 1915 - Expedition - Miss Laughley, Miss Cameron & Miss Hobbs

Birthday Party - Betty S., Betty H., Betty H., Betty T

Birthday Party - Mary, Betty H., Betty H,. Betty S., Miss Cameron 

Birthday Party - Betty T., Betty H., Betty H., Betty S., Miss Cameron

Old Girls - Monica & Margaret S.

Mary and Edith after batheing

The Bathers

Betty, Edith, Mary, Alba, Margaret T.

II Form - Margaret, Barbara, Joan, Lorna (or Laura)
Peggy             Barbara H.

Betty S. and Nipper (Nipper the Airedale Terrier was donated by one of the maids in 1915)

A poem, "Nightmare of an Upper IV Form Monitress," in the school magazine in 1915 includes this verse:

"While I had been changing, bad Nipper, I think,

Had entered our form-room and spilt all the ink---

The wall and the ceilings were splashed red and blue,

 And the whole of the form-room was purple in hue.

Other pets mentioned or pictured during this period were Peter the black cat, Tommy the pony, a tabby kitten, another school dog and Archibald (Archie) the velvet-swimming crab taken from the shore. The crab was returned to the sea after a while as he might be lonely!

Tommy the pony, given to the school in the summer of 1914, was put to use mowing the front field and tennis courts

The Downs after fielding at St. Peters David's School

Boarders' Room - Blue Room M.R. (Mary Riley?)

Closeup of Dresser in Blue Room - ceiling shown in mirror

Boarders' Room - Mauve Room M.T. (Margaret Tayler?) (check out mirror in background)

Closeup of Mirror in Mauve Room appears to show photographer and her camera (plus one other)

The above cricket match at Roedean School, Brighton, between their 1st Excelsior team and the Downs School team, took place on the 12th of June, 1915. The result was 56 : 26 in favour of Roedean. During the next two weeks Downs girls won against St. Peter's boys school and against their own 'Old Girls' team. The next match against Roedean was cancelled on account of the war.

A match was held at Roedean the following year (24th June) this time 'Downs'  won 144 runs to 72.

Sports - Aileen, Margaret & Gewnedd

The above photograph shows two girls on the outside of concentric circles marked on the grass. They appear to be using cricket stumps or similar to 'push' balls from the inner circle into the centre of the circle where there may be a target. It would be interesting to  to know if this is a known 'sport' or if it is some activity that has been created at the school. Does anyone have any ideas?

Cricket Team - Adela, Letty, Margaret T., Gwenedd, Alba
Mary, Maisie, Betty T., Margaret me?
Mollie    Minnie

Loose photo - Unknown location (Lewes Priory ?)

Loose photo - Unofficial School Photo - Unknown date

Loose photo - Closeup of school photo - unknown date

Loose photo - Unidentified teacher ? - Downs School Tennis Court 

Loose photo - Watching a match at the Downs School (probably Cricket)

                                                           

From the Downs School Magazine:

LORD KITCHENER'S REVIEW - 1915

    TUESDAY, JULY 20TH, was---one of the greatest days Seaford has ever known---Lord Kitchener came down to review the Ulster Division before it left for the front.

    The Review was held at the large field on the Hindover Road. By the time we reached it---at about a quarter past eleven---it was lined by the excited inhabitants of Seaford, including the occupants of every school in the neighbourhood. We were very fortunate in securing an excellent place quite close to the saluting base.

    After a short period of thrilled excitement, Lord Kitchener appeared amid loud cheers. He passed just in front of us on his way to review the cavalry, and we saw him quite plainly. During the march past he was at a little distance, surrounded by the Staff. All the battalions passed us on their way to the saluting base, so we were able to see everything excellently.

    On our way out, several of us---the "camera fiends"---saw Lord Kitchener dismount and get into a car. He drove slowly past, and we "snapped" him beautifully as he turned round, smiling, and---saluted us!

A.W. [Alba Windham]

From the Howard Photograph Album:

Crop version of image below

"Kitchener in Seaford" - "Troops marching by"
Lord Kitchener's Review of Ulster division - Seaford 20th July, 1915 - left: Downs School hat!
photographer from Downs School / copyright Ben Franks

Crop version of image below

"Kitchener in Seaford" - "Kitchener & Staff riding by"
Lord Kitchener's Review of Ulster Division - Seaford 20th July 1915
photographer from Downs School / copyright - Ben Franks

Examples of the types of cameras used by the 'Camera Fiends'

THAT IS THE LAST OF ALBUM PHOTOGRAPHS

From the Downs School Magazine:

THE REVIEW OF THE ULSTER DIVISION

AT SEAFORD BY LORD KITCHENER

JULY, 1915. 

A WORD-PICTURE.

        A WIDE stretch of undulating greensward,---soft brown shadow on the downs. Suddenly the notes of a bugle-call thrill in the air and then die away across the meadow. In a moment the brown herbage becomes the rigid , khaki-clad ranks of the massed army, The air is full of the intense, suppressed excitement. A number of Staff Officers ride into an open space stretching along the southern side of the meadows, and take up their stand before the flag-staff and saluting-base. The air resounds with the thud of horses' hoofs as officers gallop round the field, now with a report to the chief, now bearing his orders. For a moment there is silence---then the sound of distant cheering is borne on the breeze. Another bugle rings out, and the air is full of the shouted commands of hundreds of officers. The swords of the Staff, and of a squadron of cavalry near them, flash as they come to the salute. Away across the slope of the field the sun glints on a rippling sea of steel as thousands of bayonets are "presented" in honour of the great Field-Marshall's arrival. As Lord Kitchener rides on to the field the Union Jack floats out above him, and the massed bands burst forth in loud and triumphant welcome. He rides round to inspect some of the units,---not a sound arises from the waiting host, rigid at attention, save for the pawing of a restless horse, or the trample of those of the Staff as they accompany the Field-Marshal on his round. In a few minutes they return, and group themselves around Lord Kitchener at the saluting-base. And then the marvel of the day begins. The troops start to march past in a never-ending stream --- first cavalry, then battalion after battalion of infantry with their A.S.C. limber waggons and equipments in the rear. Again and again the command "Eyes-Right!" rings out; again and again Lord Kitchener raises his hand to salute in acknowledgement. For fully an hour the stream of men continues, rising as it were out of the ground as they come up the far slope, down into the hollow, and up again to pass the saluting-base. Nothing seems to escape Lord Kitchener, as, laughing and chatting the while with the Staff, he indicates with a gesture qualities or failings,---till the Red Cross waggons and the rear-guard of the Division have passed,---and he rides off the field, accompanied by the Staff. Once more there is nothing but the wide stretch of green meadow-land bordered by dark trees---quiet and peaceful where just before one of England's greatest soldiers has reviewed an army.

H.L. [Helen Liddell?]     

    The above reports and photographs allow us to see and feel the wonderful occasion experienced by the students of the many schools in the area,  local residents and the thousands of young soldiers soon off to the dangers of war. The spectacle of cavalry and massed  infantry with bands playing and Lord Kitchener and his Staff  in the Seaford meadows lined by trees would have made a marvellous subject for photography--- impossible to resist. The "camera fiends" will have taken many photographs of the event as keepsakes and to send home to their families.

    There must still be many more photographs of the event in the girls' family albums. It would be wonderful to see them. 

Pathé News recorded the event----Link:

https://www.facebook.com/36ulsterdivision/videos/lord-kitchener-reviewing-the-ulster-division-1915/286218994877236/

Pathé News was a producer of newsreels and documentaries from 1910 to 1970 in the United Kingdom. Its founder, Charles Pathé, was a pioneer of moving pictures in the silent era. The Pathé News archive is known today as "British Pathé".

THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE 

    The School magazines (from 1909 to 1963) donated to the museum by the headteacher and other teachers provide a good insight into the life at the school.

The magazine cost 1 shilling and 6 pence in 1916; the equivalent of £10 in 2025. It did contain a lot of information about school events, trips, sport and individual students etc. plus news of  'old girls'.

This blog only takes a look at the first ten years or so until just after the end of the Great War.

It shows, in many ways, the difference between the lives, attitudes and expectations of  the children of  well-to-do significant families both locally and from all over England.

    The young ladies, particularly the boarders, had to be entertained or receive an education for 24 hours a day and also the parents had to be assured of their safety. 

    From 1915 for five years there were the Kitchener Camps (one camp in two areas) containing  thousands of young men away from home with time on their hands when not in training. There were previously Summer Training Camps each year for London Units but these were only for a couple of weeks at a time and in temporary tented accommodation. 

The staff at the twenty or so girls, boys and mixed Boarding Schools in the area would have had to keep their charges close i.e. within school grounds or when on visits and "expeditions" to mostly nearby countryside attractions and to the beach and coast.

    Many of the entertainments within the Downs School and its grounds would have been organised by the students themselves. Sports were always a key feature, even before the war, of the arranged events especially matches, home and away, with the other local schools and as far away as Roedean girls school in Brighton. All of these activities were reported in the termly school magazine. The subjects covered  included the regular Debating Society meetings, lectures, field sports with other schools, examination results, 'Old Girl' meeting reports and Annual School Student Lists. There were also details of  shows, plays, musical recitals, and other events plus expeditions to local places. Critiques on the individual girls' sporting ability were  also published.

    I have not come across any untoward interactions between the girls and the trainee troops. 

    Amongst the trainee soldiers there were a number reports of drunkenness and other dishonest activity and even murder as would be expected amongst so many individuals that have been thrown together  and not chosen particularly on the basis of character.

    The educational and trainee soldier communities  were obviously kept well apart.

    Let's look at what the school magazines tell us about the activities at the school during the decade including the war years:

THE WAR

The deaths of husbands and brothers of Students and Old Girls are recorded each year. 

Four deaths are recorded in the 1915 magazine.:- 

The Childs’ brother on the Western Front. 

Jean Kessler’s brother in the Dardanelles. 

D. Ashby’s youngest brother went out as a motor despatch rider at the beginning of the war and has been missing since September. 

D. Keenlyside (Horsfall)’s brother serving in the Munster Fusiliers was reported wounded and missing in May. 

C. Johnson’s husband and four brothers are all fighting as is E. Viney (Merriam’s) husband. B. Blaikie (Webb)’s husband was wounded in the charge of the London Scottish an invalided home. One of the Lockwood’s brothers took part in the defence of Antwerp and is now interned in Holland. A. Robert’s brother is on H.M.S. Waveney. D. Morgan’s eldest brother is a doctor in a French base hospital and her younger brother was awarded a Military Cross after fighting for months on the Western Front. 

Many other brothers have gone out- the Richards, Clares, Fields, Lennards, Tollers, Mills, Dibbens, Duttons, Woods, Patersons and Brammals. 

A further seven were reported killed in the 1916 magazine:- 

Julian Richards, 2nd Royal Sussex 25/9/15 - leading the machine gunners. 

Christopher Moor, McGill University Canada at Gallipoli - just as he and his captain, the only two, reached the enemy trenches. 

Charles Gray of the Lincolns - leading his men toward German trenches at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. 

Samuel Lennard – on the Western Front. 

Percy Hawkins – on the Western Front. 

Northcote Toller, Royal Fusiliers in July 1916 – in the great advance. 

At the very beginning of the war Eileen Maxwell (Gordon) was widowed and left with her little daughter Joan. 

Edward Wood Lennard who fell at Passchendaele “last surviving brother" of Eveline and Kathleen Lennard. 

The 1917 magazine reports the death of Gerald Mills, Major and general Commander of the R.F.C., who was killed on his fourth day out at the Front aged 26.  

Two more were reported in the 1919 magazine. 

Captain (Acting Major) Gordon Dutton M.C. 5/4/1918 at Beauvois, of wounds. 

Major William Martin Butler R.E. 5/3/1919 of septic pneumonia at 57 C.C.S. France. 

Colonel Synge father of Dinah, Winifred and Peggy died on the 11th of July,1920, from an illness resulting from the War.  

 Many more family members will have been wounded, some seriously, who would die young or endure long term ill health. 

 

The girls sent out fortnightly parcels of food to a Prisoner of War in Germany. 

  

There is an interesting account in the magazine by 'old girl' Pauline Toller who is returning home in early June 1916 from Sweden. She crosses the North Sea, her journey taking four and a half days, landing at Newcastle after a very unpleasant crossing to the news that Lord Kitchener had been drowned. She had read of the Battle of Jutland in a Norwegian paper immediately prior to her voyage commenting "terrific English losses! Germany celebrating and feasting! schools closed." She says "We are thankful to be leaving Sweden; thankful to say goodbye to a pro German country, and still more thankful to have finished our training in Stockholm." 

 

Many of the Old Girls and teachers worked as V.A.D. nurses, dispensing medicines for a Red Cross military hospital, on munitions work, in Y.M.C.A. Huts, or taking the place of men teachers, bank staff etc.  who have gone to fight, One was running a recruiting office and another was an officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. Another joined a peat stacking camp at Whixall where there were about a hundred students working under military discipline.  

 

On ARMISTICE DAY (11th of the 11th of 1918) this report was provided by V.B.B. [V. Bacon?]: 

We got the great news at break, and work was stopped at once while the whole school streamed out onto the front field and there gave vent to the exuberance of their feelings until lunch time. Just before lunch Miss Moffatt and a few energetic spirits who had rushed off to the town to get flags, came back laden with spoils which were quickly hung up outside the school giving the house the proper festive appearance. Miss Cameron gave an enormous Union Jack which was hung triumphantly from one of the windows and looked most imposing. 

In the afternoon Miss Cameron entertained the School to tea in the playroom at Bydown, which was decorated with flags and evergreens for the occasion. We drank the King’s health, and the healths of the Army and Navy and Air Service amid loud cheering. After tea the whole School went to the Thanksgiving Service held in the Parish Church. Everybody felt that this and the never-to-be-forgotten School Service which was held at the School after supper, and at which we sang “Land of Hope and Glory” with more fervour than we had ever sung it before, was a fitting ending to the most wonderful day the School, and surely the whole world had ever known. 

It was impossible to do adequate honour to such an event in one day, so Miss Cameron kindly gave us another holiday on November the 12th, which we celebrated by a house-match in the morning and a fancy-dress dance in the evening. The match was the School House v. Maitland and Bydown and ended in a victory for the School. 

The afternoon was spent in preparing for the evening’s dance, which took place at 7.30, after we had enjoyed a most sumptuous supper which Miss Cameron had provided for us in the hall, which had been beautifully decorated in the afternoon by the prefects. 

Surely nobody who was at School when the Armistice was signed will ever forget one moment of those two wonderful days. Though few of us perhaps realised fully at the time what had really happened, even the youngest of us felt that something oppressive had been removed from the air, for the first time for four and a half years peace descended upon the whole world again.  

We prayed for peace; no deadly strife to-day 

‘Twixt winged foes can darken God’s clear air, 

We seem to hear the beating wings 

Of God’s peace angel there.                                                                                            V.B.B. Note:

THE DEBATING SOCIETY 

    A debate was held on the 11th of December 1909 the subject of the motion being "Fox was right in his admiration for the French Revolution; Burke wrong in his hatred of it" (motion lost by one vote) 

After the debate it was decided that a Debating Society be formed. It would be for Teachers and students of Upper Fourth and upwards with two debates being held each term. 

    The first four debates were held on the 19th of March 1910. but did not produce a high level of debate but later subjects reflect the times in which they were proposed and give insights into the attitudes of societies’ elite as changing times impact their lives forever: 

1910 "War is never justifiable." (motion lost by 21 votes) 

1910 "That a savage is happier than a civilised man." (lost by 7 votes) 

1911 "Freedom of the press is good for the nation." (Ayes 18, Noes 12) 

1911 "The censorship of women's fashion is desirable." (lost by 21 votes) 

1912 "Nationalisation of the coal mines is the only way to maintain peace in the nation." (won 5 votes) 

1912 "Aeroplanes ought not be used for the purpose of war." (wan by 2 votes) 

1912 "East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet." 

1913 "All the supporters of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty for Animals should be vegetarians." (motion lost unanimously) 

1913 "It is necessary for British Rule in India that the subject native races should be treated as inferiors." (motion Lost 10 to 15 votes "in a very spirited debate")  

1914 "It is better for women to ride astride than to use a side saddle." 

1914 "The substitution of oil for coal in the Royal Navy would be a welcome change." 

1914 "A man of action has done more for the world than the man of ideas." (won by 7 votes) 

1914 "Moral courage is to be more admired than physical courage." (won by 7 votes)  

1914 "Aeroplanes will be more useful than motor cars. (lost by 8 votes) 

1914 The life of a soldier is preferable to the life of a sailor." (won by 3 votes) 

1914 "A secluded life is better than a public one." (lost by 13 votes) 

1914 (October 10th) "That lack of energy shows weakness of will." (lost by 11 votes) 

1914 "That conscription would be a better thing for England than voluntary service" (lost by 19) 

1914 "That Indian Troops should not take part in European Warfare." (lost by majority of 20)  

1914 "That Cinematographs have done more to detract from than to add to the culture of the world." (Motion lost by a single vote) 

1915 to 1917 - The subjects for debate between these years appeared to have been less controversial, by todays’ standards, and the motions did not look at national or world issues as they had done previously. 

1918 "That after the war the air Service is likely to take the place of other means of transit.” (carried by 10 votes) 

1919 “That domestic service under present conditions is impossible.” (lost by a majority of 36) 

1922 “That the coloured races of the British Empire should have equal rights with the British citizen” (motion was lost by 14 votes) - The irony here is that the British West Indian Regiment was ‘formed’ in Seaford in 1915. Many of the soldiers, who died, mainly of illnesses, are buried in the military area of Seaford cemetery and are remembered each year by local people. 

  

SPORTS

To be continued

Artist: Eileen Bennett (the only girl with these initials)

Work in Progress

ENTERTAINMENT i.e. Plays, Concerts, Recitals, Parents Day events etc.

By Eileen Bennett

Created by Eileen Bennett

 

By Eileen Bennett

To be continued

EXPEDITIONS

Expeditions mainly took place on Saturdays. These included local walking and cycling trips out and longer ones by horse drawn wagonette or motor char-a-banc rides. All would have involved picnics and stops for refreshments at tea rooms etc. 

1911 - PEVENSEY 

1911 – FIRLE BEACON (Coronation night - June 22nd, 1911, King George V and Mary) 

1911 – 24th of June - LEWES 

1912 – BEACHY HEAD, EASTBOURNE (Sat 9th of March) 

1912 – The Down above WILMINGTON (16th of March) 

1912 – 12th of June – PEVENSEY – WANNOCK GLEN – on the 5th of October. A bicycle tour starting at noon via Exeat, Friston and Jevington and on to Wannock. After a walk through the Glen had refreshments at Wannock Tea Gardens and then home via Polegate and Wilmington arriving at dusk. 

1912 – Cortlandt, a house in HAILSHAM on the 12th of October by bicycle via Exeat, Litlington passing Alfriston. Lunch outside Wilmington then through Abbott’s Wood via Hyde to Hailsham. After Tea returned home via Polegate and Lullington. 

1913 (21st of June) - starting at 9.30 on a DRIVE THROUGH LITTLE SUSSEX VILLAGES in two brakes and a waggonette “to the accompaniment of the Blue Room Horn.”. Went on the Newhaven Road, past the round towers of Piddinghoe and Southease churches. To Iford and on to Swanborough Manor where the owner showed them inside the house. Some stayed and sketched the house while others walked to Kingston Village. The group, back together again, then drove to Firle to have Tea in the garden of the Ram Inn They drove home halting at Selmeston,  watched an exciting cricket match and then on home via Alfriston and Litlington arriving at 8.45. 

A brake was a four wheeled large, closed, carriage drawn by two or four horses. A waggonette was a four wheeled horse drawn open pleasure vehicle with side and cross seats as shown in photograph in album.  

1913 “Saturday Expeditions” :-  

4tth of October - just five walked with Miss Huggard to Birling Gap through Exceat, Friston and East Dean and back home in the evening via the Seven Sisters and Crowlink. 

5th of November – Miss Cameron and her form started at 2.30 walked via the Cradle Valley to Alfriston in time for tea in a room at the Star Inn. On the way home they went through Charleston Bottom, West Dean and Exceat by moonlight. 

A second party on the same day went with Miss Huggard went over the downs to Denton via Blatchington then up the Shepherds’ Steps and followed the ridge of the downs for some time to the top where they had a Picnic Tea. They retuned over the downs via Seaford.   

1914 (June the 29th) the Annual School Expedition was to CHANCTONBURY RING, a very thick circular clump of beech trees, close to Worthing. They left at 9 o’clock in two Tourist Coaches through Kempdown and Brighton. There are photographs in the album of the group having lunch in the shade of the trees. After exploring Chanctonbury Ring, where there are wonderful views of Sussex, they walked to Steyning where the brakes met them and took them on to Bramber. There they had an excellent tea at Yew Tree Tea Gardens. They drove home via Brighton arriving home at 7 o’clock.   

1915 (July 12th) - to WILMINGTON with Miss Cameron to see The Long Man. Only one brake could be obtained so those with bicycles rode them and a few walked.  Had lunch at the foot of the Downs. The Long Man’s form is cut in the grass of the chalk hill and was then lined with tiles to preserve it, Most then climbed to the top of the Downs where they could see the Cuckmere and Newhaven in one direction over the Sussex Weald in the other. They then visited the church and ruins of the old manor house in the garden of the neighbouring farm. After tea in a little lane in the village they returned home with the walkers, cyclists and drivers all arriving within a few minutes of each other.  

No more expeditions are mentioned until half term 1918. 

On June the 23rd,1919 by train to LEWES. Paid a hasty visit to the Castle climbing to the top of the keep. Then caught the train to Glynde and walked to West Firle. “Here we all had a most hilarious dinner in the garden of the old inn”. Wandered in threes and fours about the village and park before having tea at 4 o’clock. Walked back to Glynde for train, stopped in Lewes to see an old house and then by train back to Seaford arriving at 6.30. 

LECTURES

Lectures given by outside speakers, parents, teachers and sometimes even by students were a common feature of life at the school. 

The subjects were very varied and more-often-than-not illustrated by Lantern Slides as follows: 

22/10/10 - THE GREEK GAMES – by Miss Radford 

“Previous Monday” - DOWNS DITTIES – Mr. Richardson 

7/10/11 - LIFE IN PALESTINE” - Mrs. Schor (parent) who wore dress of peasant in Bethlehem 

14/10/11 - THE HISTORY OF DELHI – Miss Perkins 

4/11/11 - THE POSITION TURKEY HOLDS IN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS – Miss Green 

29/11/11 - BEAUTIFUL SONGS AND THEIR WRITERS – at Symonds Institute, Seaford 

12/4/11 - THE INSURANCE BILL – Mr. Bramall (parent)  

27/1/12 - LIFE IN PALESTINE – Mrs.  Schor who wore Jewish costume (Also sang “There is a Green Hill”) 

9/3/12 - VISIT TO THE DELHI DURBAR – C. Rutherford (first lecture by student) 

8/5/12 - PALESTINE – Mr. Schor (parent) 

18/5/12 - PUBLIC AND SOCIAL WORK – Miss Phillips about Citizenship and Social Responsibilities 

“End of Summer Term” - WOMEN STUDENTS AT BRISTOL UNIVERSITY – Miss Stavely 

26/10/1913 - THE HISTORY OF SEAFORD – Miss Robinson 

16/11/13 - THE EASTERN QUESTION (The Balkan Peninsular) - Miss Green 

25/1/13 - CANADA – Miss Packer 

11/2/13 - WORK IN THE GREAT TOWNS (Widnes soap, St. Helens glass, Sheffield cutlery) - Mr. Proctor (Church Pastoral Aid Society) 

7/3/13 - JANE AUSTEN AND HER NOVELS – Mr. Helm 

17/5/13 - OLD LONDON (highlights of London Life) - Mr. Blake 

16/12/13 - THE MISSION SERVICE- Bishop of Southwark 

6/3/13 - THE NEW WORK IN CANADA- Bishop of Willesden 

7/6/13 - WORK IN THE MISSION DISTRICT (South London) - Miss Cholmondeley 

16/10/13 - COAL MINING AND COTTON MANUFACTURE – Mr. Proctor 

11/1013 - WOMENS EDUCATION IN THE EAST – Miss Shaun 

15/11/13 - THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE BALKAN PENINSULAR – Miss Green 

8/11/13 - THE ART OF BUILDING AND DECORATING IN FIFTH CENTURY GREECE – Miss Evelyn Radford 

2/12/13 - JEWISH CUSTOMS AND MANNERS – Rev. S Schor 

26/2/14 - WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE, A NATIONAL QUESTION – Mrs. Rackham 

20/3/15 - THE FAILURE OF GERMAN STRATEGY – Mr. Ernest Vaughan 

28/6/15 - MISS BUTLER’S SCHOOL IN BANGALORE – Miss Butler 

25/11/16 - THE RAILWAYS OF YORK, DONCASTER, STRATFORD AND MANCHESTER – Mr. Porterfield 

6/6/17 - SHAKESPEARE and how to read his plays - Mr. Poel (founder of The Elizabethan Stage Society) 

12/6/17 - THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT – Miss Sheepshanks 

26/3/18 - THE POTTERY INDUSTRY IN THE MIDLANDS – Mr. Porterfield 

xx/xx/18 - JULIUS CAESAR – Mr. Poel 

4/11/18 - WESTMINSTER ABBEY – Mr. Pears 

21/11/18 - THE ZENANA MISSION – Miss Laurence 

12/3/19 - CHURCH PASTORAL AID SOCIETY – Mr. Porterfield 

7/11/19 - NEW SUSSEX HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN – Miss Green 

Lent Term 1920 – ITALIAN ART – Miss Cazalet 

Lent 1920 – C.P.A.S. IN THE LANCASHIRE COTTON TOWNS – Mr. Porterfield 

Summer Term 1920 – THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY – lecturer not named 

24/6/20 - INVALID CHILDREN – Miss Gray 

Michaelmas Term 1920 – CHURCH ZENANA MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN INDIA – Miss Lawrence 

OLD GIRLS CLUB

The school had a very active Old Girls Club which included the whereabouts of leavers whether students or teachers.

This included university exam results, births and marriages, war deaths of husbands and brothers, war work, and career information etc.

There is considerably more information than I have provided in this blog which can be researched at Seaford Museum. 

The list below shows students between 1912 and 1915 along with starting and leaving terms along with examples of what they did after leaving the school. Much more is included in the magazines. 

DOWNS SCHOOL LIST – From 1912 to 1915 (combined) 

Key: Terms 1. Lent 2. Easter or Summer 3. Michaelmas 

Ref  No.	Name	Year/ Term Joined	Year/Term Left	What they did on leaving school
1	Dutton Barbara	10 2	13 2	To 3 yrs at Liverpool Sch of Domestic Economy
2	Mackintosh Cecilia B.	05 3	13 2	To Honours Course in History – Manchester Uni
3	Paterson Doris M..	04 3	13 2	To Paris then Germany - now Games Mistress at Warden Court School
4	Pemberton Clarissa H.	07 3	13 2
5	Walch E.	12 3	13 2	To continue art studies towards profession
6	Downs Eileen Rose	11 3	14 2	War work at Hull Bank then Edinburgh College of Art
7	Gray E.	12 2	13 2
8	Broadbent C.	13 2	14 2
9	Brooke M.	12 3	13 2	To study botany and to do farming near her home
10	Greenwood V.	13 1	13 3
11	Strickland M.	11 3	14 1	Training to become Motor Ambulance Driver
12	Tayler Margaret	11 1	15 2	Studying at College of Pharmacy – and dispensing at military hospital Winchester
13	Plumer A.	12 3	13 2
14	Rooth Edith	13 1	15 3
15	Schor Miriam	11 3	14 1
16	Stace Margaret	12 2	14 2	Training as a Norland Nurse
17	Bowyer Edith	08 3	14 2	War - Red Cross Hospital Beckingham
18	Harvey-Jones E.	13 2	15 1	Madame Vandyck. School of Dancing
19	Lawford E.	13 1	14 2
20	Riley Mary	12 3	16 2	Working as a V.A.D. Nurse
21	Bennett Eileen	08 3	15 2	Training as Secretary at a Womens Employment Bureau
22	Conradi Catherine	10 3	13 2	To make home with her family in U.S.
23	Stack V. (Letty)	08 3	17 2	Ministry of Labour then Oxford Uni. graduate
24	Lawford Adela	13 1	16 1
25	Roberts Gwynedd	12 3	17 2	First year Modern History Degree at Oxford
26	Liddell Helen	12 3	17 2	To the Air Board then History Mistress in North Foreland School, Broadstairs
27	Koskina(s) T.  (Thalia?)	13 2	16 2	Nursing at Queen Alexandra Hosp,. E. Clanden
28	Tayler Betty	11 1	18 2
29	Lambe Audrey	12 2	19 1	Games Mistress at Harvington Coll. Ealing
30	Gervis Maisie	13 3	18 3	Madame Vandyck. School of Dancing
31	Koskina(s) A.	13 2	17 2
32	Ponsonby M.	12 2	15 3
33	Stack M.( Peggy P,)	12 2	20 3	Brighton School of Drawing
34	Conradi E.	12 2	13 2	To make home with her family in U.S.
35	Tayler Chris	12 3		Still present 20 3
36	Dutton Joyce B.	13 3	14 2	Domestic Economy course at Manchester Uni
37	Knight Elizabeth	13 3	17 2
38	Kellock Hilary	14 1	15 3
39	Vickers A.	13 3	16 2	Royal College of Music then Music Mistress at High Wycombe School
40	Leaf Betty	13 3		On 14 2 SL but not on 15 2 school list - Seaford
41	Godfrey-Faussett Joy	14 2	17 2	Working at the Ministry of Labour
42	Howard E. (also initial B for Betty)	13 3	15 2	Collector of Album photographs
43	Lawford A. (shown twice?)	13 1	16 1	Duplicate entry
44	Synge Dinah	13 3	18 2	History Mistress St. Felix School Southwold Link: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/public-spirited-woman-who-left-the-town-a-lasting-gift-1291932
45	Milligan M.	14 2		Not on 15 2 school list
46	Hazell Betty	14 2	19 2
47	Kirkaldy-Willis Jean	14 2	14 2
48	Morgan J.	14 2	17 1
49	Synge Winifred	13 3	20 2
50	Jack Elizabeth (Betty)	14 1	16 1
51	Douglas M.	13 3		On 14 2 SL but not on 15 2 school list
52	Manners-Sutton C.	14 2		Not on 15 2 school list Berghapton, Seaford
53	Barton Barbara	14 2		Still present 19 2
54	Synge Peggy	14 2	19 3
55	Gunning E.	14 2	14 2
56	Gunning L.	14 2	14 2
57	Currie Z.	14 2		Not on 15 2 school list
58	Varden J.	14 2		Not on 15 2 school list
59	Windham Alba	14 1	17 2	President of Committee for Undergraduates
60	Vickers D.	13 3	18 2	Music Mistress at Wycombe High School
61	McAlpin Molly	14 3	16 2	Training as kindergarten teacher
62	McAfee Margaret	15 1	18 2	Oxford - obtained degree 1922
63	Chard N.	15 2	16 2	Working at the War Office
64	Southam Betty	15 1	18 2
65	Edmonds K.	15 1	19 2
66	Livingstone L.	14 3	16 1
67	Knapp Margo	14 3		Still present 19 2
68	Hurst Barbara	15 1		Not on 17 2 list
69	McAfee Joan	15 2	22 2
70	Synge M. (Peggy i.e. P.)	14 2	19 3	duplicate record (see 54)
71	Gervis Lorna or Laura	14 3		Still present 20 2
72	Bradshaw Ruby	14 3	18 2
	On 1912 List (not 1913)
73	Anson Gertrude	10 2	12 3	Study music in Bonn and Manchester – war YMCA Hut
74	Salter H.	08 3	12 3	Figure drawing at studio – war Red Cross Hospital
75	Johnston E.	11 2	13 1	Went to Germany and then to Italy
76	Elliot D.	12 3	12 3
77	Elliot M.	12 3	12 3

Teachers at Downs School for Young Ladies – 1910 to 1920 

Key: Start/Left dates -Year & Term 

Name	Subject	Start	Left	Additional Information
Kirkness			09 2
Tunnicliffe A. C.	Latin & History	10 1	11 2	Earsheaton, Dewsbury
Thomson	III Form Mistress	10 1
Pagny	Music & French	09 3
Sherlock			10 2	Caterham Valley, Surrey (Mrs Layton)
Packer Evelyn Lucy				Woodbridge, Suffolk (Mrs Cook)
Young Amy Mary		10 3	11 2	Temp from Sept 09 to Head of St. Margaret’s East Grinstead
Radford
Brunton Cicely				Wellington, Salop. ((Mrs Allcock)
Corbett			13 2	Upper Parkston, Dorset
Bull			10 2	Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester
Milward
Hurry Maria E.	P.E.			Highcliffe-on-Sea, Hants. Then Combe Down, Bath
Wild				( played piano) Clarence Gate, London N.W. the Baker Street, London
Robinson Lucy	Headteacher			Paragon Parade, Cheltenham
Butler				L.M. School Bangalore City, India
Schmoutziguer				Wageningen, Holland – Died in 1918
Starling				West End Lane, Hampstead N.W.
Birkett (H.B.F.) Beatrice Mary				Lauderdale Mansions, Maida Vale W. then Montreal, Canada
Burmester				Went to her sister in Dresden
Tunnicliffe		11 2		Sister of C. Tunnicliffe
Huggard	German & French	11 2		Barnsley Yorks.
Hennuin	French	11 2	13 2	Rue Gambetta , Lille, France
French				(played violin) Wallington, Surrey
Cameron Lucretia M.	History /Headteacher	13 2		Underwood, Horeham Road, Sussex
Hawkins			13 2	Swainshill, Hereford
Ogilvie		13 2
Thinon de la Troche	French	13 2	21 2	St. Aubin, Eure, France
Hughes Mira Kathleen				Onslow Gardens, Kensington – Died on the 21st August 1918, daughter Sir & Lady Hughes of Wexford, Ireland
Hobbs I. D.			16 2	To do munitions work
Langley			16 3	Bedford the Dunedin, New Zealand
Stegall Katherine E.			17 1	(became Mrs Connor in 1920)
Croft				The Cottage,, Lowdham, Notts.
Humphreys			16 3	Bangor, Wales
Fletcher
Whitely			16 2
Tretheway		16 3	17 3
Hendry M.M.		16 3	17 3	Seymour Street W. - To train women of Q.M.A.A.C.T.
Martland		16 3	17 2
Connold	Mathematics	17 1	18 2	Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk - To France helping Miss Hookey
Compton		17 1	17 3
Stuart Cox as Matron		17 2	17 3
Pitt V,J,	Games Mistress	18 3
Rutty	Mathematics	18 3
Kemp	Dom’tic Science
King	House/Form Mistress Bydown	18 2	19 2
Hookey	Science	17 3	17 3	Left to Y.M.C.A. Hut work in France
Box	Classics	18 1
Moffatt	Matron	18 1

Note: This list is likely to be incomplete and the dates are approximate as they were obtained by scanning through the bound magazines. They will be updated at a later date.

The references to teachers tended to be "Miss" plus surname without an initial or a given name.

Other, later, photographs of life at the school from the files of Seaford Museum:

School Gymnasium

Girls exercising outdoors

Cricket Match

Hall and Stage - Downs Schools Seaford

Girls studying under canvas - the tent was pitched each summer

Girls  in Workshop

Horse Riding

Horse Riders - Closeup

Downs School Building form Sutton Road

 

Please see my other blogs which result from my research projects for Seaford Museum.

Links:

  https://dryplate2colour.home.blog/   relating to Eastbourne photographer Ellis Kelsey (1866 to 1939). Seaford Museum holds some 2300 of his images taken from 1889 including colour from 1908.

 A companion blog to 'Dry Plate to Colour'  concentrates on the Early Colour Systems such as Autochrome and Paget Process which were introduced in 1907 and 1913 respectively. I show many images by Ellis Kelsey not previously seen. Please see link: https://earlycolourphotography.blogspot.com/

Also http://greatwartales.home.blog/   which is about four soldiers who trained in Seaford and Eastbourne during WW1.

And https://lamberecipes.blogspot.com/ being a list of  some 200 Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian recipes and Remedies by the Lambe family of East Blatchington.

Also  https://sussexbirds.blogspot.com/  detailing the birds found in the Seaford area in the middle of the 19th century.

And research into a stereo image by Seaford photographer Mark Wynter of a shipwreck at Seaford Head. Link: https://seafordcliffswreck.blogspot.com/

Also   https://blatchingtonbarracks.blogspot.com/ which includes the story of the 1795 riots and executions and also the story of the 'forming' of the Rifle Brigade in Blatchington near Seaford.  

And  http://ancientseaford.blogspot.com/  which looks at 18th and 19th century drawings of the Seaford area by Charles George Haité and John Constable and other early artists and photographers. It reproduces an article (1895) by Haité bemoaning the 'current' development of the town.

Seaford Museum is run entirely by volunteers and is funded by its members and day visitors. Please take a look using the following link:  http://www.seafordmuseum.co.uk/   

Many thanks for reading this blog. 

Ben Franks