Bedham Schoolhouse - Sussex - Sept 21

[BikinGlynn]

Contrary to popular belief this was prominently a schoolhouse not a church.
The small schoolhouse was built by William Townley Mitford MP of Pitshill manor and the Church of England to provide elementary education for children from the hamlet and surrounding area. Built in the style of a chapel it doubled up as the church on Sundays. The single room was divided by a curtain for infants and senior classes.

At the end of the school week the chairs were turned to face the east and ink pots removed from the desks. In the 1930s services would be held there once or twice a month by the Rector of Fittleworth, with one of the local ladies playing the harmonium.
Due to falling pupil numbers the school closed just before the First World War, but the church remained open.

During the beginning of the Twentieth century, the hamlet attracted some high profile artistic residents such as the composer Edward Elgar his wife Alice and daughter Carice, who lived in a cottage there between 1917-21. It’s said Alice heard the church bells ringing to celebrate the end of the war.
However, the congregation dwindled and the church shut its doors for the last time in 1959.

Not much else to say about this place really, its a lovely setting for sure but small so only a few pics from here.

Thanks for looking

 

[HistoryBuff]

Would you know what the roof was made of?

 

[DarkHorse]

Nice pictures! I went there in 2017 and my pictures show clay tiles on the end wall (With the bell frame on). Not an absolute guarantee that it was all like that though.

 

[night crawler]

Would you know what the roof was made of?

Odds on slate or tiles, I'd go for the latter

 

[night crawler]

Contrary to popular belief this was prominently a schoolhouse not a church.
The small schoolhouse was built by William Townley Mitford MP of Pitshill manor and the Church of England to provide elementary education for children from the hamlet and surrounding area. Built in the style of a chapel it doubled up as the church on Sundays. The single room was divided by a curtain for infants and senior classes.

At the end of the school week the chairs were turned to face the east and ink pots removed from the desks. In the 1930s services would be held there once or twice a month by the Rector of Fittleworth, with one of the local ladies playing the harmonium.
Due to falling pupil numbers the school closed just before the First World War, but the church remained open.

During the beginning of the Twentieth century, the hamlet attracted some high profile artistic residents such as the composer Edward Elgar his wife Alice and daughter Carice, who lived in a cottage there between 1917-21. It’s said Alice heard the church bells ringing to celebrate the end of the war.
However, the congregation dwindled and the church shut its doors for the last time in 1959.

Not much else to say about this place really, its a lovely setting for sure but small so only a few pics from here.

Thanks for looking

You capture it well, beautiful old building shame it ended like this

 

[urban-dorset]

Lovely photos.

 

[BikinGlynn]

Would you know what the roof was made of?

as above im guessing tiles on wood, not sure if it had a fire? usually the case when timber has completely gone

 

[BikinGlynn]

Nice pictures! I went there in 2017 and my pictures show clay tiles on the end wall (With the bell frame on). Not an absolute guarantee that it was all like that though.

b interested to see that.