History of St Peter’s School

St Peter’s school in Cottonmill Lane is by far the oldest school in Sopwell. It started off as two schools, a church school for boys and girls over seven and a school for infants from two to seven. The building was situated originally on Old London Road where the Priory Park complex is now. They were built between 1850 and 1851 on land granted to the schools by the Earl of Verulam.

St Peter’s Infant School occupied one large room at the west of the old building. The church school was an adjacent room about 40 feet by 20 feet. Both schools opened on 29th September 1851 and soon had 120 and 160 children on the registers. The staff in each school consisted of a mistress assisted by pupil teachers and monitors. A child could become a pupil teacher at the age of thirteen, and receive tuition from her mistress while teaching for a maximum of 25 hours per week. Children served a five-year apprenticeship as a pupil teacher. In 1872, there were about 130 infants in the one room without dividing partitions or curtains.

Boys in the church school were transferred to Christ Church School in Verulam Road in January 1893. Later on, in 1901, another school was built for the senior pupils. Called Priory Park, it was built alongside the eastern end of St Peter’s. St Peter’s later became a Church of England primary school and Priory Park became a senior girls’ school.

St. Peter’s ceased to be a Church of England school after the second world war and became a County Primary. Shortly after that, in 1953, St. Peter’s took over the Priory Park building when pupils from that school were sent to St Julian’s Secondary School (now renamed Marlborough School) in Watling Street. The land on which the present school is situated used to be allotments until well after the war. The site was acquired in 1968 and the school moved into the present building in Cottonmill Lane on 31st January 1975 and the new nursery department opened on Monday 3rd February 1975.

Many residents have memories of attending St Peter’s on the old site. The following is from Peter Gould who the headteacher from 196-65.

‘When I became Headteacher of St Peter’s in 1960, aged 33, I was the youngest member of staff. Just after the new term began, the deputy head had an attack of Bell’s palsy and the music teacher, Mr Rawlins, broke his arm and so both were absent. I scoured St Albans and managed to find one replacement teacher but I had to take a class full time myself for a few weeks, whilst managing everything else and getting to know the school! However, the staff were all wonderfully supportive – whilst I was careful not to be a “new broom sweeping clean”.

St Peter’s had been a girls’ secondary school immediately after the Education Act but with Hertfordshire’s extensive post-war population explosion and consequent building programmes, the school had become a JMI. The building in Old London Road, was Victorian with many nooks and crannies and two playgrounds but no playing fields although the football field was near the old Sopwell Nunnery a short walk away. We were also able to use the old outdoor swimming pool in Cottonmill Lane nearby. Most of the children lived in the immediate locality and about 25% were of non-British origin. Only about 5% were from professional or middle-class backgrounds. I made clear to the staff that my first objective was not to update the old curriculum but to create the kind of social atmosphere in which mutual respect between staff and children would form a basis for learning and change. So there was great insistence of politeness and well-controlled classrooms. In time this objective was achieved and visitors frequently said what a nice atmosphere we had all created. I had been on several courses at Herts County Council and began to update the maths and reading schemes, replacing Nature Study with more exciting Junior Science. I based my lessons on ideas from the UNESCO Book of Science Teaching – intended for developing countries! Nearly all the equipment came from everyday items in the home and the children enjoyed collecting materials for frequently messy lessons. Although a small school we had a good football team coached by George and we won the 5 a side cup. One of the team, John Mitchell, went on to play for Fulham and played in a Cup Final, although on the losing side. Later in his career he became manager of St Albans FC.

At St Peter’s I renewed my link with the Herts School Sailing Association and we built an Enterprise sailing dinghy in a temporary classroom in the playground. The timber was provided cheaply by the husband of one of an old colleague of mine at Brunswick Park School in London, and the building and the building frames were donated by a fellow member of the Herts SSA. My brother in law, also a teacher, made many of the metal fittings in his school workshop and the boat was built for approximately £100 plus sails.

Two boys from the school worked enthusiastically on the construction, Andrew Daykin and Dougie Taylor. Andrew was the son of one of my regular supply teachers, Elizabeth Daykin, a cultivated English graduate and excellent pianist. We took some of the school children and the boat for training at Cheshunt Sailing Base and to Bury Lake at Rickmansworth.

Between 1960 and 1964 I regularly took groups of school children to Cuffley Camp and to the Herts Sailing Camp on the Norfolk Broads.

In 1996 I was pleased to hear that one of my grandchildren was to start at St Peter’s – albeit a new building on a different site! And in 2000, some 35 years after I’d last taken a class at St Peter’s, I was delighted to be invited back to speak to her year 3 class about my time as Head – an opportunity to show them slides of Cuffley camp and reminisce about how things were in the 1960s.’ Peter Gould

Comments

  1. Sandy Norman

    I received this comment from Les Meaton: “I lived at 3 Mentmore Road until 1965 when I married and moved to Watford. I was a pupil at St Peters from 1948 to 1954 when I transferred to the new St. Julian’s Secondary School. My brother who is 10 years older at 81 went to Beaumont School and he stayed in St. Albans living at Howland Garth on the Cottonmill Estate until a few years ago when he moved to Northampton to be closer to his daughter. My recollections of St. Peter’s School are sketchy as I was Footballing nut. I do remember Mrs. Ermston and playing fag cards against the wall in the Primary School playground also playing tag. In the junior side I remember a block of outside toilets. My mates included Roy Sheppard and Graham Barnes. Roy’s family owned the bakery a few hundred yards from the school. Great bread great smell.”
    Les added two photos of the St Peter’s school football teams in the 1950s.

    Reply
    • Teresa Eileen Gulliford Bridgwater

      I noticed a comment from Les Meaton he is my mother’s cousin I wonder if anyone knows how I can contact him.

      Reply
  2. Ann McAuley (Nee Batt)

    It was wonderful To read about St Peters school.I was there from 1948 to 1954 . Names I remember are Barry Edwards whom I am still in contact with .Graham Barnes, Barry Poulter ? Peter Saunders,Alan Meagher, Wendy woodward, Gillian jelfs,
    Diane Carvill,Carol Barnes, georgeous looking Lorrain who lived up the hill from The shepherds, Roy shepherd,Michael Savige. After St Peters I went on to Townsend ,and unfortunately lost contact with friends . I actually married a guy from old London Road that used to go to the after school Gym that St Peters ran.Great School and many many fond memories . Miss Ermston was My first Teacher ,I remember fondly miss or Mrs Rodgers ? and scary Mr Stickland ,Strickland. On my last visit to St albans I visited the old school site which brought back so many fond memories. I lived in Priory walk up untill 1964 when I came to live in Australia.My Late Husband was Denis McAuley from Old London Road.

    Reply
        • Colin Smith

          Hi ann ,did you live near the shops in cotton mill lane? If so I was a friend of your brother Lesley and I think your dad worked at the eleco works with my dad

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          • Colin Smith

            Hi Ann. Do you still live in st Alban’s and is Lesley still ok I remember with sadness your mum dying . And your dad working at the spere works with my dad..kind regards Colin

          • Colin Smith

            Hi Alan .wow it was a long time ago but doesn’t seem it. great to hear from you .and o that cutting room morge .I think it was only Lewis that made it that way . Hoping you and family are ok . I have been married now for 43 years and live in Wellingborough for 40 years . Went to aquarscutum and eastex but I don’t know what I was looking for. Kind regards Colin .

          • Alan Jones

            Hi Colin, we must be survivors! I am in contact with Bob Sneddon still. I live in Hitchin and have been married 48 years with three children, all adults now. Nicholsons has been converted to luxury apartments now, it looks impressive. I am still doing some tailoring although retired. I also enjoy being the consultant and not the lacky. best regards Alan

    • Brenda

      Hello Ann Batt. Do you remember me? Brenda nee Martin. Used to go about with Sheila nee Little child. St Peters School.
      I think you are thinking of Barry Poulson. Lived at the bottom house at Cotton mill Crescent.

      Reply
  3. Jeff Mattison

    I recognise myself in the Christmas photo, Jeff Mattison, along with a couple of my close friends, Michael Fuller and Ken Hounslow. Would be interested to know if anyone out there recognises other old school friends?

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    • michael thomas fuller

      My sister found this place and i could not believe it.
      I live in USA now but i have tried many times to find something but never never did.
      I had a stroke about 10 years ago but i’m still good but cannot write as i used to be..lol.I
      I would love to find even more but the christmas photo was amazing.
      i would like to know my people to remember.I’m going to read all about more now.I remember about the strickland..we all hated him.
      mike

      Reply
          • michael thomas fuller

            Jeff…i have notice another person whom i recognice(?)
            I have been working painting on my home right now but when finished i’ll talk a lot.I’m not if you are trying to saying anything this not on the sopwell to recive anything.Can you please send an email name.
            mike

          • michael thomas fuller

            Hi Jeff.I’m not sure if you remember of this kid on the left side table….you know him.Well this person ruined my life during the St Julians school.I would like to talk to him as he is a man know…i have tried to find him on chat channels but no luck, i would fly to england to meet him again.
            I will tell you later since i would not talk about this on the Sopwell chat cause it would be hard to talk like this.

            mike

    • michael thomas fuller

      I would like to talk more if these are so long.You remember how we used to mess on the massive coal area then they would come after the workers from us.
      Like i said my reading is not as it was after my stroke and i had to talk all over again just like a child….funny.Did you find anybody else?
      thomos1966@gmail.com
      Do you know how we can send some photos around here.
      take care
      mike

      Reply
    • Colin Smith

      Hi Jeff .I remember yourself .John .Julie .and Jim as we where great friends. I went to scouts with Jim when you lived in pemberton close ..please remember me to Jim!

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    • Peter Smith

      Just got to discover this website. I remember you guys & Kenny Hounslow well. Remember Sunday afternoons sneaking into the back of Jos Pearce’s yard & mucking about with you & Mick Fuller. That’s me holding the cup aloft in the football photo. Still got copies of that & other St Peter’s ones. Remember mucking about with your brother John in the back row at Sunday School too.

      Reply
  4. Michael Collins

    I well remember St Peters school,I lived in sopwell lane I also remember Mr Strickland hated the man but loved going to that school

    Reply
  5. Beverley earnshaw

    Hello, my name was Beverley Archer and I lived in Albert Street opposite ‘Joss’ Pearces. I remember Michael and also his brother Stephen. I have just found this site and was really surprised to see myself in two of the photos, and can name quite a number of the choir. I have very fond and happy memories of my time at St Peters during the late 50s – early 60s. The teachers I remember are Mrs Urmston, Mrs Strathdee, Miss Hodges, Mr Rawlings, Mr Strickland and also his wife. I remember the head before Mr Gould – Miss/Mrs Bunfield. There was also David Kirby – is that the supply teacher Mr Gould refers to? I went on one of the wet camping/sailing trips to the Broads and remember Larry M scalding his foot. We used to go to the field for trials to see who would represent the school in the county games but had more fun looking for slow worms on the railway embankment. Happy days

    Reply
  6. David Cook

    Started primary school in 1959 at Pemberton but had a bad experience there. Not sure the teachers were entirely interested in kids. St Peters was an entirely different experience. The headmaster was amazing and the music teacher a real gent. The most amazing was Mrs Edwards, restored my faith in humanity. Happy times and then on to Beaumont another great school.

    Reply
  7. Colin Smith

    Hi Jeff .I remember yourself .John .Julie .and Jim as we where great friends. I went to scouts with Jim when you lived in pemberton close ..please remember me to Jim!

    Reply
  8. Mike Hatch

    This is a long shot!
    I was a pupil at St Julian’s boys school way back in 1972. Does anyone know whether the girl’s school was called the same?
    I had a girlfriend called Jackie Clack, who lived at Robert Avenue, just off the Watford road.
    You never know, someone out there may remember!

    Reply
    • Sandy Norman

      Hi Mike, did you know there is a Facebook group for those who went to St Julian’s? It’s called “I went to St Julian’s Secondary School now called Marlborough”. You should find friends there.

      Reply
  9. Denise Murphy

    I went to Hertfordshire College of Art to study a 2year BTEC ordinary national diploma in Art and Design circa 1986 at the old St Peters school site, with just the life drawing class run at the Art college in Hatfield Road. Towards the end of the course we were moved to the Campfield Road site for all classes. Later the course was moved to the Uni of Hertfordshire in Hatfield. I am still in contact with atleast 5 ex class mates. Key teachers were Phillip and Wilimina (Willy) Gray who also taught in London at one of the top Graphics Unis, and other teachers called, Flea and Tess for textiles, Pete and Tony. It woukd be great to gave a page on here for the history of the college. I have a quite a few photos. This site also house Btec Foundation courses in modelmaking, computer aided design and fine art. We were a v close community. A reunion is overdue.

    Reply

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