THE history of schools and transport in the upper Gaunless Valley is to be showcased during an exhibition later this year.
More than 300 people converged on Butterknowle Village Hall last year for the Upper Gaunless Valley History Group’s annual exhibition, which featured the area’s rich mining and railway history.
This year’s display is expected to be equally captivating with some fascinating facts coming to light.
These include a telling photograph of schoolboys pictured bare-footed in front of their school dressed in rags.
History group chairwoman Jeanette Newell said: “I would say it would be early 1900s just by what they are wearing.”
Although the area has only two remaining primary schools, there were several more in the past.
Ms Newell said: “There was one at Lynesack by the church. There was another in Quarry Lane. There was one called Haggerleases School and the school at Woodland. The current school [at Butterknowle] was built in 1912.”
The group’s research has shown that the Lynesack school had more than 160 pupils in the late 1800s and Haggerleases school, which had a room size of 32ft by 20ft, accommodated 101 pupils.
Group member Fred Atkins said: “There was one teacher and a couple of assistants to control 101 pupils.”
Quoting a report in the school log dating back to 1909, Mr Atkins added: “The mistress reports some of the children were unruly and talkative. She was obliged to cane them.”
He revealed the pupils were seriously affected by illnesses such as scarlet fever and diphtheria, but despite this, attendance was more than 90 per cent, indicating how important education was to the local people.
Children aged five to seven attended the infant school at Haggerleases before moving on to the elementary schools at Lynesack and Quarry Lane.
Records show that the 71 pupils at Quarry Lane paid one penny a week to attend, which was enough to pay for a teacher at the time.
Equally interesting is the transport, which, after last year’s railway theme, will focus on roads this time.
A collection of photographs by group member Chris Mills shows how much more public transport was available to people in the past.
One particularly interesting photograph shows a double-decker parked alongside a single decker at Woodland.
Mr Mills explained the bus route, which catered for early tourism, travelled from Bishop Auckland to High Force, with passengers having to swap buses at Woodland.
A number of models of buses that ran through the upper Gaunless Valley will also be on display during the exhibition.
Along with the two themes, the group is currently taking photographs of various sites around the area for a “then and now” display, which will show how places have changed since Victorian times.
The exhibition is planned for Saturday, August 31, and Sunday, September 1.
Entrance is free, but a donation to cover the hire of Butterknowle Village Hall and the cost of the displays will be welcome.
Refreshments will be available and a slide show presentation will be given at 2pm on both days.
The group is keen to hear from anyone who has photographs or memorabilia from schools or transport in the area so that they can photograph and record them.
Anyone with items can contact Ms Newell by email jnewell817@btinternet.com.
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