Parochial School

Slept OK even though my leg was sore.  Did some tidying and other chores and later on in the afternoon I walked down to the village to collect a couple of parcels and do some food shopping.

Before going to the shops I headed for the old Parochial School to get my Wide Wednesday blip... the theme is 'School/Education related'.  Thanks to StevenG  for hosting   .  

This building in School Lane began life as Whickham Charity School in 1714 when Mrs Joan Blakiston left £100 in trust to the Rector of St Mary's Church, the Rev Dr Robert Thomlinson, for the education of 36 poor children in Whickham Parish. The building was altered and extended in 1825 and 1869. The house on the left attached to the school would be where the headmaster lived. It ceased to be a school in1971 when a new school opened in the village. ( Not sure what the building is used for now )  When I first moved to the village in 1955 I lived very near to this old school. However when my Mam went to enrol me - in mid term - she was told it was full so I had to attend a different school further away from home.  I always wished I had gone to this one.

In other school news - my granddaughter Astrid started school yesterday. ( she was 4yrs old in July )  Shes lucky that the school is within walking distance of her house.  She enjoyed her first day ... and her second.

When I got home from the village I watched TV for a while and then I did a bit of sorting out in one of the spare bedrooms.  

It was a wet morning but by the time I went out it was dry, sunny and warm.  

Steps today - 8,295