The villages of Langford and Little Faringdon lie
two miles apart, in the far south-west of Oxfordshire.
Until the middle of the nineteenth century they were
in the ancient county of Berkshire, part of Faringdon
Union. Little Faringdon was an estate village, owned
by a single landlord, the epitome of a 'close'
village. The chief landowner at Langford was the
Ecclesiastical Commission, and its standing as on
'open' village was confirmed by the presence of three
non-conformist chapels, several pubs, and a more
varied pattern of houses and cottages. The combined
population of the villages, according to the Post
Office Directory of 1841, totalled 630: by the time
of the 1891 census it had sunk to 490, a decline of
more than 20%, as the farming recession bit deeper
and people moved away in search of employment.
The village schools of Langford and Little
Faringdon are particularly rich in records. Their Log
Books and School Admission Registers are complete
from the date of their adoption by the Department of
Education following Forster's Education Act of 1870;
for records earlier than this the census returns from
1851 enumerate the 'scholars' among the children of
the parishes, while Directories for Oxfordshire,
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire list the schools and
the teachers for the years that they were published.
Little Faringdon's school and school house were
'built by W Vizard Esq., supported entirely by his
lady, Mrs Vizard' in 1847; the date is confirmed by
its incision over the door of the school. It was to
accommodate 40 children, though the average
attendance in 1895 was 20.. After their purchase of
the estate in 1864 Lord and Lady de Mauley in their
turn 'entirely supported 'the school.
This seems to have been the first school in Little
Faringdon, but at the beginning of the nineteenth
century Langford was particularly rich in schools. In
1808 there were six, including a boarding school and
a day school for girls. The number varied during the
following years; Gardner's Directory for Oxfordshire
of 1852 included a 'National School recently
established'. The first mention of a school which was
aided by a Parliamentary Grant was in 1867; the Post
Office Directory for Oxon. of 1869 includes a
'Parochial school for boys and girls, supported by
subscription'.
Langford School as it is today
The school room in Langford was evidently viewed
as a communal resource, and was often in demand for
village activities. The Log Book regularly mentions
its use for the annual Vegetable Show in September,
for the Clothing Club in November, while in 1896
there was a 'Poll'; on occasions such as these the
school had to be closed. Little Faringdon School, on
the other hand, was the property of the de Mauleys,
and was not used by the villagers; while it was being
repaired in 1902, teaching took place in the de
Mauleys' laundry. At Langford, the School Treat was
held in the school; in Little Faringdon the children
were given tea at the 'big house'.
From 1851 until 1891 the Census returns show how
many children went to school, although the 1891
entries are very inaccurate and the figures in this
case come from the School Admissions Register. The
proportion of children who attended school rose
steadily, from 25% in 1851 to 80% in 1891. At first
the proportion of scholars to population of Little
Faringdon, under the watchful eye of its owner, was
considerably higher than at Langford, but by 1891
they had become the same. At the same time the parish
marriage registers show that illiterates were
diminishing steadily; after 1891 only one man, an
elderly widower from the outlying village of Grafton,
made a cross instead of signing his name.
In November 1875 Langford School, and in April
1879 Little Faringdon School came under Government
Inspection. From these dates a detailed weekly record
was kept in the Log Books following the New Code of
Regulations for 1872. At first the entries in both
schools' Log Books were perfunctory, noting the
attendance in vague terms as 'small' or 'better than
last week' or even 'much better.' At Langford the
first Report from the Inspector was not copied into
the Log Book, and the Register went unchecked; the
entries reveal the easy-going methods of the teachers.
With the appointment of Miss Newcomb at Langford in
August 1879 the deficiencies became apparent. The
previous teacher had 'left the greater part of her
Register to add up.' Her successor refused to do this
retrospectively, 'for when I leave the Schoolroom in
the afternoon I am completely used up'.
Reasons for absence were carefully noted in the
Log Books. in both villages children went absent to
go to local festivities: May Day in 1884, the annual
Temperance Fete in Langford in July, Langford Feast
every September. From Little Faringdon the pupils
went to Lechlade Carnival; on two occasions they
'took the Monitress with them', though we are not
told whether she had permission from the teacher to
be absent from her duties.
Attendance was affected in both villages by wet or
'winterly' weather; there were families who lived at
outlying farms who might be away from October until
Spring; at Langford this could mean 17 fewer pupils.
Another reason for absence was 'several children not
being able to put on their boots, having bad feet
from the severe weather'. The roads were sometimes
covered with water or with snow; in January 1910
three boys reached school, half an hour late because
they had been sliding on an icy pool and had detained
(forcibly) an infant who also was marked late.'
Sometimes so few children arrived that it was
considered advisable to dismiss those present.
The pupils changed as children moved with their
parents to other villages. In both schools this
movement was worst in October, the time of the 'mop
fair' in Faringdon, when 'the labourers are hired
from Michaelmas to Michaelmas'. In September 1900 the
teacher at Little Faringdon complained that 'The
annual changing of the children makes it very
difficult to teach them properly, so as to have good
results from their work'. It was especially hard that
the moving took place just before the annual
examination, so 'occupying time and space needed for
those about to be examined,' while the teachers found
that 'as a rule the newcomers are very backward'.
Sometimes fewer children moved to the village than
left it. In October 1902 Little Faringdon school had
'4 children only in place of the 10 who have left. 2
cannot read or write, the other two can read &
write fairly well but can do nothing else'.
It was commonplace that the start of the school
year, after the harvest, was slow. At Langford during
the first four weeks of September 1888 there were 17
or 18 pupils present out of a possible 67. Altogether
this was a difficult time, when ground lost during
the long Harvest break had to be made up; in 1897 a
new teacher found that 'the children have forgotten a
great deal of the work they had learnt before
holidays'.
When gleaning was over children of both sexes were
kept at home 'to mind babies and to gather acorns';
beans were gleaned, potatoes picked; in the spring
children had 'to gather cowslips'. Occasionally a
pupil was needed to 'nurse her sick mother and order
the house in default of any other helper,' while
'taking dinner to father in the field' was a common
reason for absence in Little Faringdon.
From 1890 onwards the Attendance Officer began to
warn the irregular attenders, making a list of their
names from the Registers; parents were cautioned
'owing to the very poor attendance of some of the
scholars'. This was not always effective: at Little
Faringdon the teacher complained in March 1906, 'I
have taken E Jefferies name off roll, as she has only
attended one week out of eleven, although mother has
promised to send every week,' but there were no
prosecutions for persistent absence from either
school.
Gradually the children's health became a matter of
national interest. The first note of a medical
certificate for non-attendance was in 1889; in April
1899 two pupils at Little Faringdon sent a 'Doctor's
Certificate for absence' for ringworm. They did not
return until November, when 'they have forgotten
nearly all they had learnt, even their letters. 'In l901
the children of Langford were visited by the Medical
Officer of Health; regular visits to both schools
began in 1908. The children were weighed and measured
and their heads were inspected regularly for vermin.
The Log Books record visits from the Vicar, who acted
as the Correspondent to the Managers; at Langford
these visits were at first sporadic, but after 1879
they became much more frequent, often daily. His
comments were noted and valued. He provided the new
slates, books and desks needed in the school. He was
responsible for receiving and paying out the salaries
of the teacher; he distributed prizes, and acted as
general adviser. He also regularly checked that the
numbers in the Registers corresponded with the
numbers of children in the school, and made an entry
in the Log Book to validate this.
The Vicar's wife also played her part at Langford
School, taking lessons in singing and drill and
providing materials for sewing lessons. This was
sometimes inadequate: in November 1879 the mettlesome
Miss Newcomb complained that 'I sent to the Vicarage
and received 1 Shirt 1 Shift a few pieces of old
calico to tear up in strips; this will not do for the
Infants it is too closely woven for their little
fingers. Have drawn up a needlework scheme and sent
it to the Vicarage just to give some idea of what is
required.'
Little Faringdon School was visited in the same
way by successive Vicars, who also checked the
Registers and gave religious instruction to the
scholars. Lady de Mauley's visits were almost as
frequent. Hardly a week went by without her coming to
the school. Sometimes she brought members of her
family with her but more often she came on her own
and participated in the lessons. In May 1882 'Lady de
Mauley visited the School on Tuesday morning. Her
Ladyship also came in on Friday morning in time to
see the children at their Arithmetic Lesson, she was
very pleased at the manner in which the children did
their work.'
On other occasions she dictated a few sums to the
children, heard the upper standards say their tables,
and took a class in reading. She was especially
interested in their needlework, and provided material
for them to use, and in knitting: 'Her Ladyship
remarked on seeing some small children knitting that
it is a good plan for them to begin young.' Generally
she expressed herself pleased with what she saw,
although occasionally she offered some gentle
criticism. In January 1880 'she heard the children
sing. She commanded soft singing and told the
children to sing a very little bit softer.' She also
paid £30 of the teacher's salary, to supplement the
Government grant of £20, in addition to the pence
received from any children over the number of 20
attending the school.
In both schools the subjects taught were those
which were awarded grants by the Education Department
on the results of examination. At first these were
the 'Elementary Subjects' of reading, writing and
arithmetic. In Langford, passes in the 'Class
Subjects 'of grammar, geography, singing and history
also attracted grants, with needlework as an
additional subject for girls. In 1883 'the Infant
Boys commenced to do Needlework'. The children were
also taught Object Lessons from objects or pictures
which were readily available to the teacher: in 1883
these included 'Cheese making, Snails, Soap, Rice,
Harvest work, the Fish'.
The Education Department also kept an eye on the
suitability of the buildings. In 1878 they noted with
approval that 'a boarded floor is to be laid down' in
Langford; while in Little Faringdon in 1898 they
complained that 'the water used in the school and
teacher's house has to be brought a distance of about
300 yards. Could not the Managers provide a supply on
the school premises?' The playground at Langford was
made 'fit for Physical Exercises' in 1901, with the
increased emphasis on national fitness which followed
the Boer War.
Progress in both schools reflected the ability of
their teachers. Joshua Walker was appointed
Headmaster of Langford School in 1881, when the
school was 'in an unsatisfactory state', and remained
in office until 1909. On his appointment he found
'all standards backward, they don't seem to have done
a weeks (sic) thorough work since the last
examination'. Within a year of his arrival he had
drawn up a list of rules on 'Punctuality, Cleanliness
& Neatness and Truthfulness'; three days later he
denied admittance to a pupil for refusing to comply
with 'the rule of the school'. Good work was rewarded
with illuminated certificates which he provided,
rewards were given for perfect attendance. Physical
punishment was rare; shocked by the bruises caused by
Miss Newcomb's use of the cane, the Vicar had
prohibited corporal punishment of any kind, and
exclusion from school was generally effective enough.
During his twenty-eight-year headship Joshua
Walker introduced lessons in drawing and nature
study, as well as practical gardening; by 1902
Langford School had won the Gardening Prize offered
by St John's College, Oxford, several years running.
Mr Walker was commanded by the Education Department's
Inspector as conducting the school with vigour and
intelligence. The standards reached improved
steadily; by 1893 the first Standard VI was achieved.
The grant which resulted from examination passes and
annual attendance rose from £34.11.0 in 1880 to £68.0.0
in 1901, augmented by annual Merit Grants for
'excellent' teaching.
The Headmaster's wife taught needlework at
Langford for thirty two years. Her teaching was
interrupted by absences of three to four weeks, when
the Log Book noted that she was 'not well'; the dates
coincide with those of the christenings of Walker
children given in the Parish Register of Baptisms.
Mr and Mrs Walker were assisted by a series of
teachers for the Infant Class. These were not always
satisfactory: in 1885 Mr Walker noted that one had
'been at work now a Fortnight but at present I find
her of no use whatever'. Other assistant teachers
were more successful: Emily Lafford attended the
school from 1875 until 1878, gaining Standard III;
she became a Pupil-Teacher at the age of eleven in
1879, and went on to gain a Queen's Scholarship to
train for a professional qualification after twenty
years' teaching.
There were also Monitors in both schools; their
duties were to assist with the Infants and, in the
case of William Tanner at Langford, to light the fire
before school, which he sometimes failed to do. His
salary in 1907 was £l0 a term. In Little Faringdon
in 1903, Patience Green, aged nearly 14, was paid one
shilling a week as a Monitress.
The progress achieved by Joshua Walker at Langford
was not matched in Little Faringdon, despite Lady de
Mauley's enthusiasm. Teachers stayed only a few
years, discouraged by the rapid turnover of pupils.
In March 1903 one reported that 'so many of the
children are newcomers that the general average of
attainment is not very high'. Prizes were given to
children both for 'Conduct' and for 'General
Progress' but in the twenty-six years from 1879 to
1905, only three children attained Standard IV,
roughly that of a ten-year-old, and none was recorded
as reaching the higher Standards. There were
persistent hopes of each new mistress, but in
December 1903 the Log Book notes that 'the children
are making a little progress in their work & seem
anxious to do their best, but it is still very
inaccurate'.
Both the teachers and the Vicar misunderstood the
growing and complex demands of the Education
Department. No 'Class Subject' was taught in 1895,
and as a result the whole annual Grant was withdrawn,
despite the Vicar's protests. Subsequent years did
not improve matters. Expectations continued to be
low, attendance short-lived and numbers too small to
divide the pupils into groups for separate teaching.
Successive Government Inspections found the standard
of the school unsatisfactory. It finally closed in
1920, when the few remaining pupils transferred to
Langford School.
Manuscript Sources:
Langford School Log Books, 1875-1892, 1892-1919
Langford School Admission Registers 1875-1910,
1910-1920
Little Faringdon School Log Books 1879-1901,
1901-1920
Little Faringdon School Admission Registers
1871-1920
Langford Baptismal Register 1838-1920
Langford Marriage and Burial Registers 1840-1920
Little Faringdon Baptismal Register, Marriage
Register and Burial Register, 1864-1920
Langford Vestry Book
Langford and Little Faringdon Census Returns
1841-1891
Miriam James came to the village of Langford
from London in 1940. She was educated at Mayfield
School, Sussex, and at St Anne's College, Oxford. She
subsequently became Head of history at Carterton
Community College. Now retired, she has recently
completed a Master of Studies degree in English Local
History at Kellogg College, Oxford. As part of this
degree she studied the early development of the
schools in the neighbouring villages of Langford and
Little Faringdon, with an emphasis on the influence
of their contrasting status as an 'open' and a
'close' village and of the people involved in the
teaching and patronage of the two schools.
