Local primary school, Forest and Sandridge, is celebrating its 150th anniversary marking its rich history of serving the community since its establishment in 1874.
To mark the milestone, the school opened its doors to the community for a special anniversary fete and all pupils gathered to form the shape of 150 for a commemorative photo.
Headteacher Scott James said, “It has been wonderful to mark the anniversary with the local community. Although the physical building and location of the school have changed, the foundations of the school at the centre of the local community remain.
“The journey the school, and indeed the local area, has been on over the past 150 years is incredible,” he added. “From humble beginnings, educating, at times, literally a handful of children, the school has grown into today’s version with over 450 pupils, 17 classrooms and wonderful outside areas for children to play.”
A history of forest and sandridge
The school’s history dates back to the 1871 Education Act, which required all children between the ages of 5 and 13 attend school. This led to the establishment of approximately 5,000 new schools across England, including Forest & Sandridge. Recognising the need for education in the area—where some children faced a three-mile trek to the nearest school—the Hon. Ralph Ludlow Lopes of Sandridge Park donated land at the foot of Sandridge Hill. Through public funding and a small levy on local tenants, the school officially opened its doors on 30th September 1874.
The first headmistress, Miss Annie Corp, served for nearly 18 years, living in the attached schoolhouse.
In 1945 headteacher Miss Wright to become a GI bride and her assistant also left to be with her husband leaving the school with no permanent teachers at all! The local authority had to plug the gaps until permanent teachers could be found.
Following World War II, the school was used to educate the children of RAF personnel from the training camp in Bowerhill.
When the RAF camp closed in 1964, the school faced potential closure, but new housing developments in Forest revitalised its enrolment. Over the years, the school expanded significantly, incorporating mobile classrooms and even the original schoolhouse until the facilities could no longer expand further or reasonably be repaired to accommodate modern educational needs.
The Victorian building has withstood numerous trials, including influenza pandemics, the coldest winter for 250 years, fire and even an IRA bomb scare in the 1970s.
In 2016, the school moved to a new site on Cranesbill Road, officially opened by then-Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla, which now caters to over four times the number of children it did 150 years ago. The original site is now a small housing estate, Lopes Close.
The information was supplied by Paul Carter, chair of Melksham and District Historical Association (MDHS). The school’s rich history is being documented in a forthcoming book created in collaboration with the MDHS. More details will be featured in the next issue of the Melksham News.
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