Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Ryde Architecture

Royal British Legion Premises 1975

ST JAMES’ WEEK-DAY GIRLS’ SCHOOL  St James’ Street, Ryde

This property was built 1834 for the Mechanic’s Institute and it was opened by Sir John Simeon M P. The institute closed about 1852. The building was taken over by St James Girls’ School, which stayed there until it was closed down in 1884.

March 1853
Two sermons were preached on Sunday last, at St. James’ Church, by the Hon. and Rev. Somerville Hay, M.A., in aid of the Infant School and the St. James’ Week-day Girls’ School and Sunday School; after which, nearly £18 was collected.

January 1858
The ladies of the congregation of St. James’ Church gave a treat to the children attending the Sunday and day schools, amounting to several hundreds.  The spacious Victoria-rooms were secured for the purpose.  There were decorations to which were added a gigantic Christmas tree in the centre of the room which reached to the crown suspended by festoons from the ceiling, as well as other ornaments. The room presented an appearance exceeding anything we ever witnessed in Ryde.  The entertainment was given in remembrance of the close of the year 1857.

The children were assembled and the hymn sang, previous to the distribution of plum cake (for they were too numerous and too closely stowed, for tea to be provided). After the cake was despatched, the exhibition of the wonders of the magic lantern followed.  Drawing of lots for the extremely numerous amount of ornaments on the Christmas tree, before sharing them out, then took place.  After the distribution the children dispersed from one of the most happy of meetings.

September 1863
In the Church of St. James in Lind Street, regular sermons were preached on behalf of the St. James Weekly Girls’ School and the Sunday Schools, when a sum of up to about £37 was usually raised.

November 1884
At a meeting of the Ryde School Board the Clerk read a letter from Mrs. Hewett, superintendent of St. James Girls’ School, informing the Board of the necessity that had arisen for the closing of these schools, which had taken place on the 2nd of October.

The Clerk said the schools were given up altogether, and the children were now attending other schools.  He thought it very probable, as Mrs. Hewett had also given notice to the Education Department, that they would have a notice from the Department, asking whether there would be sufficient accommodation now the school was closed.

Note:
At a later date the building became the Royal British Legion premises.

Source: IW Observer & RSHG Archive
Image: 1975 Roy Brinton Collection
Article: Ann Barrett