Woodlands County Primary School

The school was built on 8th September 1870,it was originally a church but then used also as a
school for a while until 1909 when the mission church was erected

(the tintabernacle) it was apparently built by order of the coal board for the children of the
miners who lived in the village and at Park Terrace.
Not much information can be found about the school – surprisingly. From speaking to my father
I understand that when he attended the school from 19?? – 19??
It was a great place to be. His teachers were Mr Kenneth & Mrs Marion Platt, they were teachers
there from the early 1930's, Mr Platt was absent from teaching at the
school for 7 years as he was to serve in the RAF until 1948 when he resumed his post at the
school with his wife. My father recollects Mrs Platt to be quite a ferocious
woman who wore a chain around her ankle, and could be very terrifying at times.She went on to
become the mayoress and always took an interest in local schooling.
The lessons at the school were very strict and quiet. At break times the boys used to play cricket
and the girls used to skip around the yard or play hopscotch.
The steps at the entrance to the school used to lead you into the cloakroom and there were 2
Classrooms at the school and an assembly room where prayers were taken
each day and hymns were sung . Unfortunately in 1972 the school closed and on its last day over a
hundred ex students returned to the school to pay tribute to
Mr & Mrs Platt and the school where they spent their childhood years. The Evening Sentinel did
take a photo of them outside the school, but I have not managed to obtain
a copy as of yet, but watch this space.





Below are some photos of the children taken in the school playground,i have named as many
children as i can,now i need your help to name the rest,please email me at kathryn641@hotmail.com


Circa 1953- Taken in the main hall.Indoor Sports.One of the teachers at the time was Miss Riley.





People in the above picture in no particular order:

David Clarke (Alf Clarke's son)



Circa 1933

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)






NAMES

Back Row Left to Right:-

1.
2. Dennis Moores
3.
4. Aubrey Moores
5. Albert Brown (Top Street)
6.
7. Arthur Dykes


Second Row Left to Right:-

1. Lizzy Brown (Albert's sister Top Street)
2. Bertha Marsden
3. Winnie Bloor
4. Lilly Moreton
5. Ruby Moores
6.
7. Jinny Thompson
8. Stella Moores
9. Audrey Thompson
10. May Broadgate


Third Row Left to Right

1.
2.
3. Cecil Dykes
4.
5.
6.
7. Ronnie Thompson



Front Row Left to Right:-

1. Harold Thompson
2. Nellie Cartlidge
3. Dorothy Moreton (Lilly 's Sister)
4. Arthur Moreton


Circa 1940

(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)



NAMES

Back Row Left to Right:-

1. Mr Kenneth Platt
2. B Colley
3.Ian Edwards
4. Ron Hedley
5. Ron Porter (Tupnee)
6. Reg Hough

Middle Row Left to Right:-

1. Jimmy Freeman
2. Bertie Morris
3. Gordon Spender
4. Geoff Porter
5. Peter Harrison
6. Bernard Woodvine
7. Stuart Matthews
8. John Beasting
9. John Hemmings
10. George Thompson (Twem)

Front Row Left to Right:-

1. Rita Broadgate
2. Irene Wagstaff
3. Sheila Spender
4. Sylvia Broadgate
5. Beryl Mayer
6. Elsie Hough

The next photo is very very old and taken around 1902
(Photo - © Kathryn J Ing)





The next 2 photos are even older - good luck in trying to name these children,if you manage to name
anyone please can you let me know.


February 1869


Front Row L to R:

1.
2. Ginny Challinor



Circa 1874


Second Row from back L to R:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Ginny Challinor




Leycett School Group 3 Taken in 1906



Names:

Back Row L to R

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Second Row L to R

1. William Rhodes
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Thomas Rhodes
8.
9. Teacher - Mr.?

Third Row L to R

1.Teacher - Miss.?
2.
3.
4.
5.
6. Maria Rhodes
7.
8.
9.
10.

Front Row L to R

1.
2.
3.
4. Alf Rhodes
5.
6.
7.David Rhodes
8.
9.