Claremount House prep school (1884)

Post date: Feb 25, 2012 7:36:29 PM

The following advert appears in the London Standard , 24th April 1884:

Wateringbury , Kent

Claremount House Preparatory School for Little Boys. Healthy situation, liberal diet, motherly care and thorough grounding in all branches. Owing to increased accommodation , a few pupils can be received at reduced terms.-Principal, Miss E. Wood.

This advert appeared in the Hastings and St. Leonard's Observer , 17th January 1891:

CLAREMONT HOUSE WATERINGBURY, KENT.

HOME SCHOOL FOR BOYS BACKWARD AND DELICATE CHILDREN RECEIVE EVERY ATTENTION.

Grounding in all SUBJECTS for PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.

Bookkeeping. Shorthand, Etc

References to Parents of Past and Present Pupils,

Terms Moderate and inclusive.

Apply to the Principal.

The 1881 census shows that there were 20 boys boarding at Claremont. They were aged from 5 to 12 years. Most seem to have been born in Kent; one had been born in Sheffield and one in Newcastle; and two, Herbert and Guy Fry had been born in India. The housekeeper was also a Fry, a Mary Fry aged 45. There was a cook and two young (14 and 16) housemaids, Thirsa and Ellen Cole, both born in Wateringbury. The principal, Ellen Wood, was aged 48.

In the 1881 census another boarding school was at Red Hill Farm where 6 girl 'pupils' aged 8 to 14 years where shown as living. All had been born in Fulham or London. Henry Allwork, a farmer of 118 acres, was head of the household and two (Sarah and Sophie) of his four daughter were teachers.