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Brierley St Paul's school was officially opened in 1871. The first
entries in the logbook (not the registers) is dated January 9 1871,
and mentions the classes were "rearranged". The building must have
been erected in 1870 or even at the same time as the church was
built in 1869, as some form of unofficial schooling must have been
given during the latter months of 1870. The first Education Act was
dated August 9 1870. Brierley school was presumably built in
readiness to conform to this Act and to provide children with
education throughout the whole of their school life. In 1916 the
building was enlarged from the front in red brick as could be seen
before its demolition, and all the children were transferred to the
Institute (which was already housing some of them) on May 7. The
improved premises were opened on January 8 1917 after the Christmas
holiday. Another Education Act was passed in 1944 under which the
method of selection for grammar or modern school was instituted. As
a result of this Act, on September 9 1946, the beginning of a school
year, the senior pupils were transferred to South Hiendley and
Ryhill Modern School, which is now known as Felkirk Middle School.
Some children, of course, had gained entrance, by examination, to
Hemsworth Grammar
School. On September 9 1968, the
three-tier system of comprehensive education came into operation in
the Hemsworth Division and, once again, Brierley lost its senior
pupils, who were transferred to Milefield Middle School,
Grimethorpe. Thus the school was left in its present state,
accommodating children from five to nine years of age. I had hoped
that under a "package deal" Brierley might have become the C of E
Middle School of the Division. Land had been bought and architects
plans had been prepared to this end but the hope came to nought and
the C of E Middle school was built in Hemsworth.
REV T B WEBSTER 1971
Modified by
Baipip
2008
Brierley St Paul's school was originally
built with only one classroom and the head teacher lived next door in
the house adjoining the school. It was known in the early years as
Brierley Girl's and infant's school. In 1966 a portacabin was placed
in the school playground as an alternative to the Institute that had
been in use as the infants class. The institute was eventually sold
to the British Legion for £5,000 and it became an ex-servicemen's
club in 1968.
Baipip 2008
Did you know?
The first person to be admitted into Brierley School
in the year 1900 was Francis H Hoyland who was born on the 15
November 1895. He was listed, as living in Brierley and his father’s
name was Ernest Hoyland who was the school Master at that time. He
was admitted into the school on the 8 January 1900. The last pupil
to be admitted in the 1800s was Alice Simpson who was born on the 10
April 1894. Her father is listed as Chas Simpson a Tailor of
Brierley. She was admitted into the school on the 11 December 1899.
Baipip 2008
*******
In October 1980, Richard Watson
at the request of Brierley Community Association made extensive
searches at the Registry of Deeds in Wakefield regarding the school.
The Registry of Deeds holds copies of all land transfers from 1704,
to the local government changes in 1972/74. This is what he found.
Deed 1. Ref. ZW 651 780 3 1st. March 1867.
3 roods of land from G. S. Foljambe to John and Robert Hoyland.
Deed 2. Ref. ZW 652 781 Ist. June 1867. 1200 square
yards of land from G.S. Foljambe and John and Robert Hoyland being
part of the 3 roods to the Rev. John Hoyland, vicar of Felkirk,
Deed 3. Ref. 623 541 626 2nd. June 1869. Remainder of
3 roods from John and Robert Hoyland to Rev. Godfey Piggot Cordeux.
Deed 4. ref. 53 157 68 29th. December 1902. School
Croft as the remainder of the 3 roods from Rev. G. P. Cordeux to
R.H. Cordeux and Edith Mary Cordeux.
Deed 5. ref.13 907 422. 1904 Coal map of Cordeux
estate showing School croft,
Deed 6. Ref 4 965 397 1916. Will of R.H. Cordeux who
died 18th. August 1915.
Deed 7. Ref. 19-172 57 1917. R. H. Cordeux share of
School croft to E. M. Cordeux,
Deed 8. Ref. 51 177 60 1925 Will of E. M. Cordeux.
Deed 9. Ref. 2 769 269 1931. Brierley Church
Institute Built 1911. From Cordeux estate to Wakefield Diocese
Deed 10. Ref. 135 706 235 1936. Cottage at 68 Church
St. purchased by Brierley P.C.C. This cottage had earlier been part
of the Cordeux estate,
Deed 11. Ref. 151 1064 367 1937. Coal Map of Cordeux
Estate showing School Croft as part of the estate.
At this time a Cordeux Trust was set up to oversee
the estate. William Goodall Heymann was a leading figure.
Deed 12. 1941 Trust lands off Cliff Lane sold to
Hodroyd Coal Co. Via. W.G. Heymann.
Deed 13. 1946 Trust Lands off Frickley Bridge Lane
sold Via W. G. Heymann.
In 1947 the Trust was reinstated.
Deed 14. 1949 Trust Lands off Frickley Bridge Lane
sold Via, W. G. Heymann,
Deed 15. Ref. 102 573 274 1966 Brierley Church
Institute, from Rev. T. B. Webster. To Wakefield Diocese
In 1969 the Cordeux Trust was reinstated and
members now included, William Goodall Heymann of Farmland Lodge Long
Clawson Melton Mowbray Leicester. John Durham Bird of Oak Bank Brook
Lane Alderley Edge Cheshire Joseph William Miles Chicken of 12 West
Avenue Coventry Warwickshire.
In 1980 Richard had conversations with Mr. Chicken
who believed that all Cordeux interests in Brierley had been
disposed of by W. G. Heymann.
You will see from these deeds that the land that the
school stands on was given to Rev. John Hoyland, but it was written
into the deeds that this land would revert to the Foljambe family
when no longer needed for a school. This was common policy at that
time and was intended as a safeguard against the village losing the
gift of lands and school. The remainder of the plot of land now
known as School Croft went to the Cordeux family and stayed in their
estate.
As the sale of Brierley Church Institute to
Wakefield Diocese is well documented you would expect the sale of
School Croft to be dealt with the same care. There is no record of
the sale of School Croft in the period 1867 to the early 1970s when
details of land transfer were centralised at Nottingham, and Mr.
Chicken did not know of the sale of this land while he was on the
trust.
Richard Watson March 2002
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