In 1860, Rosemarket Church School was opened, becoming Rosemarket School in 1875. The village school remained here for more than one hundred years until its closure in the 1980’s, this then in an era when many small village schools in Pembrokeshire were closed.
Every school had to have a Log Book and Rosemarket School was no different. Pembrokeshire Archives holds various materials from Rosemarket School, including a Log Book covering 1913 – 1931.
This beautifully preserved piece of history is a hard backed book, slightly bigger than A5 in format. The first page sets out its purpose: which should be a bare record of the events which constitute the history of the school.
It goes on to state that the Log Book should be kept at the school under the care of the Head Teacher, and that he should enter in it, from time to time, such events as the introduction of new books, apparatus, or courses of instruction, any plan of lessons approved by the Board, the visits of managers, absence, illness, or failure of duty on the part of any of the school staff, or any special circumstances affecting the school that may for the sake of future reference or for any other reason, deserve to be recorded.
The first handwritten entry is dated November 1913, with a list of staff at the time followed by some structural / logistical facts about the school:
Staff
- Alexander Bruce Avery Cattanach – Certificated; Trained U.C.W. Aberystwyth
- (Mrs) Annie Cattanach – Uncertified
- (Miss) Dorothy Christian – Supplementary
- (Miss) Rhoda Brown – Supplementary
Particulars of School
No. 92
Measurements
Main Room; 33 ft 3 in by 18ft. Area 598.5 sq ft
Accommodation 60
Infants Classroom; 15ft 9in by 18ft. Area 283.5 sq ft
Accommodation 32
Total accommodation: 92
During this first month (November 1913), there were multiple entries, covering a range of subjects from the mundane bureaucracy one can expect through to a pupil’s truancy and that he had been “punished” (details of how not specified). As a footnote on the topic of discipline and punishment, details of specific incidents and their outcomes are recorded throughout the Log Book. Some schools had a specific book for such incidents – it is not believed this was the case for Rosemarket in view of their inclusion in the Log Book.
There was a curious entry on 17th November 1913 noting that the “school was dirty this morning”, that the partition glass was dirty and there were leaves in the urinal. It went on to note that the cleaner “blames the Sunday school”, with this being noted as “only an excuse as even if it were so, she should clean it as she gets paid for it”.
School inspection
On 2nd March 1914, there was an entry noting the findings of the Diocesan Inspector on Religious instruction at the school: “Very good work has been done in this school during the year. The uniform character of the work showed that every subject had received due attention. Such thoroughness deserves very high praise”. That same year, 26 children were noted as having qualified for attendance medals, “with 3 being silver ones for 5 years”.
Curriculum
The first school year of entries ended on 23rd July 1914, noting how the school “broke up for midsummer holiday”. Entries resume again on 24th August 1914 and there are several entries thereafter preparing for the new school year, including, on 4th September, four pages entitled Scheme of Work 1914-1915. These essentially outline the curriculum, what will be covered in each of the subjects; English, Reading, Handwriting, Recitation (poems), Geography, Music and History.
The following extract is taken from the Scheme of Work for History: “Simple history of Europe in fairly recent times leading to present war” (WW1 had begun on 28th July 1914).
“The Growth of Parliament, the expansion of the Empire, History generally to 1688 and Citizenship”. It also noted “local history to be thoroughly taken”.
Military Service
On 30th April 1917, there is an entry as follows by Mr Cattanach:
“I resign duties today as Headteacher owing to being called up for the army. I hand all books over to Mrs Griffiths who succeeds me”.
Directly underneath is another entry on the same day, written by Mrs Griffiths:
“I, D. H. Griffiths BA, commence duties as Head Teacher, being placed temporarily in charge of the school owing to the Head Teacher, Mr A B A Cattanach having military service”.
On 1st May 1917 there is the following entry:
“I have granted Mrs Cattanach permission to be absent for the day in order to accompany Mr Cattanach to Pembroke Dock to make necessary arrangements for his leaving for military service”.
Roll of Honour
On (entry) pages 92 – 94, a WW1 Roll of Honour is listed, of those from Rosemarket School who served. There are 51 names on the list.
On 1st July 1919, there is the following entry: “Mr Cattanach having returned (from military service), I relinquish my post as Temporary Head Teacher from today’s date. I hand over to Mr Cattanach 16 War Savings Certificates and a Balance of 9s/6d.” Signed I.A. Harries”.
Directly underneath there is an entry by Mr Cattanach:
“I a b a Cattanach, resume duty as Head Teacher of the above school having recovered from my wounds and fitted with an artificial limb. I have been absent owing to Military Service 2 years and 3 months, was severely wounded at the xxx near Bapaune on August 30th 1918 and discharged P. U. (Permanently Unfit) from the army on June 13th 1919”.
The last entry in the Log Book was on 3rd July 1931: “Molly Barrah has been awarded a free place in Taskers High School, Haverfordwest. She was 11th on the list. She will probably commence after the Summer holidays. A certificate of merit was also received for Molly Barrah from the National Lifeboat Institution for an essay on the Lifeboat Service”.
A snapshot of village life
Reading through the pages of the Log Book is like stepping back in time, a snapshot of life in a village school and we would encourage anyone with an interest in the school’s history to visit Pembrokeshire Archives and view the Log Book for themselves.
Pembrokeshire Archives has one additional Log Book for Rosemarket School, that being dated 1979 – 1998 (subject of a future article perhaps). It is assumed that Log Books for the missing years do exist, so if anyone has any knowledge as to the whereabouts of Log Books covering the years 1931 through 1978, please do get in touch either with Pembrokeshire Archives directly or Rosemarket Local History Society.
We are continuing to research Rosemarket School and will publish additional articles over the coming months.