Eton College acquired Manor Farm Eton Wick during 1940 and offered the tenancy to Mr James Kinross Snr., who having been a long standing tenant farmer of the College but with no farmhouse, took possession of the farm. Until then his farm base had been a double Dutch Red barn on the Slough - Eton road. This barn was also known as the ‘Tramps Hotel’ having the stabling for all the farm motive power, which at that time was twelve horses. The enclosed part of the barn was commandeered by a Government Department for the storage of supplies which at various times included such items as onions and confectionery, which was not a good idea given the rodent population. Military stores consisted of such things as Air Force blue shirts and foot powder,( a medicated talc for feet, soldiers for the use of !!).
The fate of the Dutch barn was sealed in 1958 when it was sold to the Slough scrap merchant W.N.Thomas, demolition being in the capable hands of Andy Skeels of the Wick.
This is an extract from Round and About Eton Wick: 1939 - 1945. The book was researched, written and published in 2001 by John Denham.
IT
IS now satisfactorily established that this generation can hold its head high
on the subject of floods. We can now no longer have the " Wellington
" flood, as that of 1852 is called, cast in our teeth. We have seen with
our own eyes the highest of the century; in fact it is even probable that this
has been higher than the historic flood of 1774, recorded in the buttery of
College Hall, the measurement of which is reckoned from the floor of the
cellar,— and since that time it is believed that the floor has been raised. It
is a remarkable coincidence that the last three high floods—those of 1852,
1875, 1894—have all been at their highest on November 17th. On that day, in
1852, the great Duke of Wellington was buried, and it is recorded that rain
had then fallen every day since his death. On a previous occasion, the exact
date of which we cannot determine, he was returning to the Queen in a coach
and four, and his horses were carried off their legs between Fifteen Arch Bridge
and Beggar's Bridge. In those days sanitary matters were of little account, and
the outside world did not, on the news of the rising water, at once jump at the
conclusion that the boys would either be drowned or die of a pestilence; and in
1852, with the exception of a few houses, the School placidly pursued. its
usual course, though with limited amusements.
This
year on Thursday evening, the 15th Nov., the water was half-way up Brocas Lane,
and the lane between Winter's and South Meadow could only be reached in a punt
; moreover telegrams from Oxford and Reading made it clear that there was the
certainty of a heavier flood impending, although the result must have exceeded
all calculation: at the same time, had this only been fully realised on Thursday,
or even Friday morning, much confusion and want of organization might have
been avoided. On Friday morning the water was slowly finding its way into the
street down the Vicarage Lane, and rose rapidly all day, soon sweeping away
planks which had been placed for pedestrian traffic. By the time it was dark,
the street from Halliday's shop to the Local Board offices was only passable in
carts, and in Eton we were practically on an island.
There
was a very brilliant moon,-and the present writer, making his rounds at io
o'clock, found the road dry as far as Barnes' Pool; the water, which was coming
down Mr. Hale's passage, satisfied as it seemed with the wreck of Mr. Benson's
house ran steadily away down the drain. The stream was running very strong down
Baldwin's Shore. Mr. Vaughan's house we believe had gone home. Mr. Luxmoore's
only means of communication with the world was by a ladder into the Chapel
yard. How the hinges of those gates leading into that solitary wilderness must
have creaked and groaned when their rest was disturbed.
The
house on which we once read in gigantic letters of Eton blue "50 not
out" is now a stronghold of wet-bobs, and the famous blues who inhabit it
were certainly in their element; the water must have been over a foot in the
pupil-rooms and was just running into the rest of the house. At the end of
Keate's lane a powerful man was making great efforts to keep the drains clear,
which, on the authority of one who saw them working, were eventually the means
of arresting the entire inundation of the College. Rumour says that all night
long did this undaunted spirit work, defending his position with a broom
against an incessant fire of Euclids and small books, intended to prevent the
escape of the water and so precipitate the breaking up of the School. We could
only get as far as the corner of Judy's passage when the water was pouring
through the gate into Mr. Donaldson's garden. Mr. Durnford was working hard
getting up carpets, and none too soon, for on the next day the water was four inches
over the whole of his ground floor. There was a punt stationed for the night at
the end of Mr. Mitchell's passage, and the last thing we saw was a little knot
of Masters gazing at the water on the Slough Road, which prevented them going
further than the stile into the Field. The moon made the scenes very vivid.
There was no wind, but a low roar coming from the river by the weir, and from
the water rushing over the Slough Road and through Fifteen-arch Bridge.
It
is necessary to realise that at Upper Hope the river divided, the mass of the
water keeping its usual course, but a great stream poured through Cuckoo-weir,
thence through the arches along the bottom of Warre's field over the Eton Wick
Road, which formed the first cataract. All across the Slads and Babylon the
water was deep and broken but ran on steadily across Mesopotamia and Jordan to
the second cataract on the Slough Road. It carried away the palings of Upper
Club, two being taken right across the Playing Fields, knocking down the iron
rails of Ward's cottage. Old Ward slept that night with the water pouring
through the house deep enough to actually wet the mattress. The flood went on
its course through Datchet, to lose itself on the great stretch of low-lying
land between Datchet and Wraysbury.
We
shall most of us remember the morning of Saturday. All those who were in early
school heard the notice which came round, but the first sign that the school
had broken up was the headmaster in cap and gown escorted by a figure in
complete armour of waterproof. From a very early hour, in fact as soon as it
was light, we had been watching the proceedings, and had observed the masterly
preparations for immediate evacuation, conducted by adjacent householders. An
eminent exponent of natural science had been heard to express his opinion that
Barnes Pool Bridge was bound to be blown up, and it was very reassuring to find
him at the post of danger watching the wonderful scene of confusion which
began about 9 o'clock.
Everyone
had to send a telegram and get an answer, and not even the urgent demand for
journey money could make the bank open before lo. The South-Western line was
blocked, the train having had to come through Datchet on Friday night with the
water a few inches from the level of the top of the platform. The Slough road
was unsafe, so the stream of cabs, carts and punts up the street to get to
Windsor Station lasted the whole morning, and the cabmen must have voted that
the flood should become an annual institution.
After
the school had gone, we, who were left, settled down to three days steady work
of relief in the town, distributing coals, soup and bread, which everyone was
most generous in providing.
Private
enterprise was first in the field, but the local authorities soon came to the
front, and a great effect was produced by a large cart full of supplies, hauled
up the street with the Chairman of the Local Board and one of his colleagues,
borne as it were in triumph, like the gods of Peace and Plenty. Drinking water
was also a serious difficulty and had to be taken in barrels from the College
pump.
In
the afternoon the Queen drove as far as the bridge and offered to send carts
from the farms to carry people, and to deliver supplies. This was an admirable
thought, and indeed no better suggestion could have been made.
The
poor people were all most patient, spending their-- days looking out of their
upper windows, and thankful and grateful for anything that was brought them.
The Spectator was right in saying that one of the best effects of this great
flood was in bringing all classes together.
The
weather throughout was beautiful and the strange effects of the water,
especially as seen from Boveney and Dorney, were very memorable. The nights
were gloomy and made more so by the failure of the gas, which gave out in Eton
on Sunday night.
The
most successful light we saw was a flaming torch, a relic of the jubilee
procession; these in any number would have been most useful.
Many
are the deeds of heroism, real and imaginary, recorded in the few days when the
water was at its highest, and though we have not space for them individually,
we feel we cannot conclude without venturing to sincerely congratulate those
who had so narrow an escape under Fifteen arch bridge, on Saturday, November
17th.
This
article was published in The Eton College Chronicle 6th, December 1894.
RECTORS BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF ETON COLLEGE.
Date of Institution.
1 Thomas de Lacel unknown
2 Hugo de Hoddeg 1239
3 Thomas Holte 1299 died 1328
4 William de Kirkeby 1328 resigned
5 Jeffry de Upton 1331
6 William de Honesworth 1340
7 John Alban I380 exchanged
8 William Dole 1383
9 Walter Aumeny 1400 resigned
10 John Herde 1402
11 John Rothwell 1402
12 John Wiltonhurst ••• 1408
13 John Walton (? Watton) ••• 1409
14 William Gillyot .. 1414
15 William Kery ... died 1433
16 William Ap David ••• 1433
17 Pagan Burgill ••• 1435
18 John Kett ••• 1438 resigned
No. 2 presented by Hugo de Hoddeg. „
No 3 to 11 presented by members of the Huntercombe family.
No 12 to 15 presented by John Rous, Skidymore and Lovell. „
No 16 and 17 presented by Lady Felicia Lovell.
PROVOSTS OF ETON WHO WERE ALSO RECTORS.
1440 (October) ••• Henry Sever
1443 (December) ••• William Waynflete
1447 July 31 ••• John Clerk
1447 (December 8) ••• William Westbury
1477 March 31 ••• Henry Bost
1504 February 17 ••• Roger Lupton
1535 June 21 ••• Robert Aldrich
1547 December 29 ••• (Sir) Thomas Smith
1554 July 13 ... Henry Cole
1559 July 5 ... William
Bill
1561 July 25 ... Richard
Bruerne
1561 December 18 ... William Day
1596 May 26 ... (Sir) Henry
Savile
1622 February 28 ... Thomas Murray
1624 July 24 ... Sir Henry
Wotton
1639 December 28 … Richard Steward
1644 (February 1) ... Francis Rouse
1659 January 14 ... Nicholas Lockyer
1660 (July 7) ...
Nicholas Monck
1662 March 3 ... John Meredith
1665 August 8 ... Richard
Allestree
1681 February 24 ... Zachary Cradock
1695 October 23 ... Henry Godolphin
1732 February 10 ... Henry Bland
1746 June 4 ... Stephen
Sleech
1765 October 25 ... Edward Barnard
1781 December 12 ... William Hayward Roberts
1791 December 14 ...
Jonathan Davies
1809 December 21 ...
Joseph Goodall
1840 April 7 ... John
Lonsdale
1840 May 5 ... Francis
Hodgson
1853 January 12 ... Edward Craven
Hawtrey
1862 January 27 ... Charles Old
Goodford
OLD DAYS OF ETON PARISH by The Rev. John Shephard, M.A. was published in 1908 by Spottiswoode and Co Ltd. The text has been copied from the original book that is now out of copyright.
100 years ago, the Daily Telegraph reported that a heavy thunderstorm broke over Windsor and Eton between 6.30 and 7.30 on the evening of 10th July 1923. The storm continued with violence for some time. Many Eton boys were on the river and caught the worst of the deluge. Many returned to the College boathouses on the Eton shore with their boots half full of water.
One of the spires of Lower Chapel, Eton College, was struck by lightning and fell with a crash into the chapel precincts and on the highway. Only a minute before Mr. A. Mellor, one of the College music masters, had passed by in a motorcar.
Mr. R. H. Baverstock, of Queen’s Road, Windsor, manager of a wholesale meat company, had an unusual experience when motorcycling towards Windsor Castle. A sharp flash of lightning struck the handlebar of the machine, which stopped dead in the thoroughfare. He was thrown off the machine but was not hurt. Remounting the bicycle, he discovered it had been damaged, and needed to be taken to a garage for repair.
The article about the storm was republished in the Daily Telegraph of 11th July 2023.
Note Reginald H Braverstock was born on 8th July,1891 and the 1901 Census records that he was living with his parents and brother in Rydens Grove, Hersham. The 1911 Census recorded that he was working as a Cleck at a Wholesale Butchers.
The 1939 Register records that he was living at 80, Bridge Road Chessington with his wife May. They had married on 14th July 1917. His occupation is shown as a salesman in the meat trade and that he was a transport driver with the ARP.
He died in 1943 aged 52.
THE census of the town and parish in 1871 shewed a population of 3261; in 1881, 3169; in 1891, 2986; in 1901, 3154. In all cases the boys in College are excluded; the varying numbers may be largely accounted for by the time chosen for the census. The last two returns indicate some decrease of population. This is partly explained by the pulling down of cottages to make room for College houses, and the reduction in the town of in-habited houses from 635 before 1891 to 494 in 1901.
The last twenty years of the nineteenth century were also marked by the migration of a considerable number of tradespeople from their shops in the High Street to more commodious homes in Windsor or Slough. This of course caused a corresponding decrease in the attendance at the Parish Church and left many gaps in seats formerly occupied by large families. The building of the Lower School Chapel also drew away some who hitherto could find no room in the College Chapel.
The working class population, during those twenty years, was also driven for want of cottage accommodation to seek it elsewhere, and many regular workers in Eton lived in Slough, Windsor or at Eton Wick. A fresh opening for the artisan class was made just beyond Eton Wick.
This came about indirectly by the action of the Eton Urban Board. More space was required for the Sewage Farm, and they accordingly purchased land in Boveney, and then finding that they had on their hands more than was needed, they offered the rest for sale.
The purchaser saw his opportunity and soon covered the land with villas and cottages, which were equally soon filled with tenants, most of whom were working in Eton. A considerable population was thus created, and being far distant from their Parish Church of Burnham and. Burnham schools, the people found their way to Eton Wick Church and schools. This, and the general unsuitability of the Eton Wick school for modern requirements, brought about the erection of Girls' and Infants' schools close to the Church on ground granted by the Crown. The change was effected in 1888 at the cost of £1237.
In 1881 the Eton School Laundry at Willowbrook was opened. Although inaugurated in the interests of the College, it has proved in many ways beneficial to the homes and lives of many of the working people in the parish.
In 1894 the College Watermen were re-organized--a much needed reform, which has also contributed to the better interests of the parish.
In 1887 was Queen Victoria's jubilee.
The rest of the events up to the death of the Queen may be very briefly chronicled.
In 1892 the old Porny school-room, which for some years had been a carpenter's workshop, was secured as a Parish Room, for holding meetings, classes and entertainments. This was carried out largely by the energy of the Rev. G. S. Clayton, Assistant Curate 1892 to 1897.
In December 1894 the Urban District Council for Eton was elected, and superseded the old Local Board.
At the same time the out-district of Eton Wick was constituted a parish for civil purposes, and five parish councillors were elected to manage their business.
In 1892 a temporary arrangement was made with the Vicar of Burnham, by which the Vicar of Eton undertook the spiritual care of the growing population in New Boveney.
In 1895, at Easter time, there was a large muster of volunteers, who were quartered in the various school buildings in Eton and the College. A special service was held for them on Easter morning.
A year later, the Cemetery Chapel was newly floored, and the east end of it enriched by some marble work and a beautiful stained window.
In the course of 1898 a piece of ground, presented by the College, was added to the cemetery and consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese.
A branch was started of the Mothers' Union in 1890, and a Company of the Church Lads' Brigade in 1899. Both of these have proved of signal value in the parish.
In 1900 the parish sustained a severe loss by the death of the Vicar's Churchwarden, Mr. J. P. Carter. A processional cross was presented to the Cemetery Chapel in his memory, and a churchyard cross was erected by parishioners and friends, and placed just between the old and the new part of the cemetery.
The outbreak of the Boer War, and the call of many Eton soldiers who were in reserve to leave their work and serve their country, marked the year 1899, and led to the raising in the district of a fund for the maintenance of the soldiers' wives and children, and to a pathetically memorable Christmas party given to them by the Queen at Windsor Castle.
A few months later, Victoria the Good had passed away, and Eton took its part in paying its last sad homage to a revered memory, and then in the year following (1902) there was the busy preparation for King Edward's Coronation, his unlooked for illness and happy recovery.
In 1901 Bishop Stubbs also died, and Bishop Paget became Bishop of the Diocese.
The only parish event of these years which needs to be added to our record was the inauguration in Eton of a representative Church Council to consider Church matters and advise the Vicar.
With this we must close the last chapter of this story of the ups and downs of the town and parish of Eton. Many smaller incidents in these later years might have been included, and the names of many individuals, lay and clerical, might have been mentioned, to whose devoted work and example the parish owes a debt of gratitude, but to do so with due discrimination of worth would be a difficult and invidious task. Their labours of love will meet a full reward. We need only express the hope that those who read in these pages of the inheritance derived from the centuries past, will follow in their steps and bestir themselves in good earnest to uphold all Eton's best traditions, and will take their part in handing on to generations yet to come even larger benefits, and greater opportunities for good than they have themselves enjoyed.
OLD DAYS OF ETON PARISH by The Rev. John Shephard, M.A. was published in 1908 by Spottiswoode and Co Ltd. The text has been copied from the original book that is now out of copyright.
WE have seen how, for something like five centuries before the College was founded, the parish of Eton went through various changes and vicissitudes: first, for 300 years, served by clergy unknown by name, supplied chiefly by a great Monastic Order; then, for 200 years more, under the care of a succession of Rectors, like the ordinary Rectors of most English parishes. Then we learnt how in Henry VI.'s reign it entered on a third stage of experience and was under Rectors who held at the same time the dignified office of Provosts of Eton College and often other posts as well, and how during this period the Collegiate Church served as its Parish Church.
This condition of things lasted from 1400 to 1875. In 1875 the Provost was relieved of parochial responsibilities, and the College Chapel ceased to be the Parish Church.
The fourth and last change came about in the following way.
In 1862 a Royal Commission sat to consider the condition of the great Public Schools of England and to suggest improvements. Among other matters that needed reform, the Commissioners found that for some years past the Provosts of Eton had practically ceased to act as Rectors. Several of them had never been instituted by the Bishop to the cure of souls, nor had they, except on the rarest occasions, officiated in the Chapel of Ease or undertaken any rectorial duties.
The care of the parish was practically left to two, or, after the building of St. John's Church, to three Conducts, who took their turns week by week to serve in the two buildings. Although one was styled the senior, in virtue of the date of his appointment, the three were virtually co-equal in authority ; each during his week of office took precedence of the others ; each had a portion of the parish under his care ; each had a department of the schools ; each worked in his own way and after his own methods ; and there was no head to counsel or correct, or to check neglect. Moreover, some of the Conducts held other offices as well. One acted as Master in College and was rarely available for any evening work; another was a master of a College boarding house; another had private pupils. Where these duties clashed the parish became a secondary consideration; and as no changes or new departures in work could be effected without the concurrence of the three, progress was necessarily hampered, and the condition of things was unsatisfactory.
Indeed, this anomalous arrangement was almost as bad as that which existed in some few other parishes at that date, where there were three Rectors in one parish, each responsible for the Church services during their week. It was clear to the Commissioners from the evidence they received, that the want of a head was detrimental to the interests of the people, and the more so as there were no churchwardens to voice their needs and feelings, and no Easter Vestry at which grievances could be aired and remedies suggested.
The marvel is that the system had worked for so long as well as it had, and that as a rule the three Conducts managed to discharge their duties without any serious friction in spite of very often a wide difference of opinion.
The Commissioners issued their report in 1864 and made the following recommendations: "The Parish of Eton should be constituted a separate Vicarage and endowed out of the revenues of the College. The population of the parish, excluding the boys in the School, is stated to be about 2000. It is suggested that /600 a year should be set apart for this purpose, but this sum might be diminished, should the Vicar be provided with a house or adequate lodgings by the College."
ETON had several opportunities in the nineteenth century of showing its loyalty to the Royal Family.
One memorable occasion was after the marriage of Queen Victoria, when she and Prince Albert drove through from Slough on their way to the Castle. Eton street was adorned with triumphal arches, and the royal pair was enthusiastically welcomed.
So again in 1863, on the occasion of the Prince of Wales' marriage, the whole town was likewise decorated. Mr. Thomas Hughes gave a fat sheep, which was roasted whole in the Brocas, and zoo children were regaled with hot roast and boiled beef, pudding and beer. After-wards each child was presented with a cup of wine and retained the cup in memory of the event. This was before the days of the Temperance Movement!
A tree called the Alexandra Elm was also planted in Brocas meadow by Mr. Hughes, but has since dis-appeared. A nut tree planted the same day stands in the grounds of the Crown and Cushion Inn.
But the crowning festivities were on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887, when for a whole week both Eton and Windsor kept up continual festival in splendid weather. In spite of the excitement and the enormous crowds, the general behaviour was all that could be desired ; good humour, good temper, and good manners marked this genuine rejoicing.
But to return to matters which directly concerned the parish. In October 1858 a further step was taken to meet the wants of the increasing population. The Porny Schools, built in 1813, only afforded accommodation for thirty-three boys and thirty girls, and there was but a small Infant School which held twenty scholars. It was accordingly arranged to exchange the school premises for a site belonging to Mr. Penn, then Lord of the Manor, and on this to erect a complete set of suitable buildings. The plans were prepared by Mr. Street, and the building was carried out by Mr. Hollis of Windsor at a total cost of £3000.
Hitherto all measures for the education of the poor had been carried out, here as elsewhere, solely by the voluntary efforts of the Church-people. Now for the first time the State was open to an appeal. The Educational Committee of the Privy Council, which at this time had assumed the care of elementary education, made a grant of £554; the rest was raised by local subscriptions including £250 from Eton College and £100 from Baldwin's Bridge Trust and the National Society. The new schools were placed under the management of a Committee of thirty-two which was to include the existing Porny Trustees. These schools were opened in 1863, their trust deed being drawn in accordance with the regulations of the National Society for the Education of the Poor in the principles of the Church of England. It is on that ground that they are termed the Eton National Schools. The title implies that they are Church Schools under Church management.
In these new schools the seventy Porny Scholars continued to receive their education free: for the rest of the children weekly payments were made by their parents at varying rates from twopence per child.
It will be convenient here to recount briefly the nature of the changes introduced since.
In 1864, these schools were placed under Government Inspection, but no grant was made, on the grounds that the Porny Endowment of £156 a year was sufficient without Government aid.
In 1865 the Porch to the Girls' and Infants' departments was built, in memory of Mark Anthony Porny.
In 1866 the Infants' School, as not covered by the endowment, was allowed a small Government Grant—and in 1871 the grant was extended to all the departments.
In 1870 under Mr. Forster's¹ guidance the State made its first serious effort to extend the school system, and Board Schools were started, where required, at the ex-pense of the rates, and in these no catechism or distinctive religious truth was to be taught. This is known as the Cowper-Temple clause.² The Voluntary Schools were to be maintained, side by side with the Board Schools³, under state supervision receiving certain state aid, on the condition that any parent might withdraw a child from religious teaching under a conscience clause.
No grant was to be given for a child who had not made 250 attendances in the year.
In 1870 to 1875 while Board Schools were growing and drawing largely on the rates, increased demands were made on Voluntary Schools for improved buildings, better apparatus and smaller classes.
In 1876 school attendance was made compulsory, and arrangement was made for the payment of school fees for poor parents, without thereby depriving them of the franchise.
In the same year restrictions were placed on the employment of children, before they had reached a certain age.
In 1883, in the Eton schools, a new classroom to accommodate sixty pupils was added to the. Boys' department.
In 1889 a new code was introduced, by which individual examination was abolished, and increased expenditure in school buildings was enforced; in the following year our school buildings were repaired throughout, and a block floor laid in the Boys' school.
In 1891 admission to schools became free from October 1; and, in lieu of the children's pence, the Government gave a Fee Grant of 10s. a head. The introduction of free schooling proved of doubtful advantage to the Eton children. Many parents being relieved of payment were less careful to keep their children regular, and a still further loss to the finances of the schools was entailed by the withdrawal of part of the Porny Endowment from the ordinary income of the schools. It was to be devoted to the instruction of the children in cookery and such like subjects, and towards evening classes, prizes and exhibitions. A portion how-ever was reserved for Sunday school purposes, and for the repairs of school buildings.
In 1895, to carry out the scheme of the Charity Commissioners, three representatives of subscribers of 5s. and two representatives of parents, and two of the local authority, were elected and added to the old body of Trustees.
Cookery classes were established in 1897, and the first Porny Scholars under the new scheme were elected. In 1898 a considerable sum was raised by a voluntary rate and both the Boys' school and Infants' school were enlarged, and the playgrounds extended and re-fenced, and better offices arranged. The Lord of the Manor gave the additional ground.
In 1900, the attendance necessary to earn a grant was raised to 35o; and other stringent regulations were also made.
The Act of 1902 brought about greater changes still. Under that Act the terms Board' and Voluntary' were discontinued, and henceforth schools were distinguished as ' provided or Council schools,' and non-provided.' The former were those built and maintained entirely by rates and taxes. By the same Act the supreme control of the Eton non-provided schools was vested in the County Authority, whose business it became to settle the number and quality of the teaching staff and to provide for all other working expenses out of the rates.
In consequence of this, the large body of managers, which under the trust deed had carried on the schools, was superseded, and its place taken by the small body of six persons. This included four foundation managers, the Vicar being ex-officio, and three churchmen to be elected by the subscribers to the schools, and two others representing the ratepayers generally, one being chosen by the Urban District Council, and the other by the County Council.
The duty of this body was to carry out the instructions of the County Authority, to select teachers subject to its approval, and to see that the interests of both teachers and scholars were duly cared for, and the schools kept in good order.
By what was known as the Kenyon-Slaney clause,' this body was to assume control of the religious teaching, instead of the responsibility, as in the trust deed, resting on the Incumbent only. An amendment, made in the House of Lords, secured that the authority of the Bishop should decide whether the religious instruction given was in due accordance with the trust deed. While the expenses in all secular matters were to be met by the county rate, the Church was still to be responsible for keeping the fabric of the buildings in good repair, and for any structural alterations which the County Authority might deem necessary.
Several improvements were ordered by the Authority, one of the chief being better cloak rooms for the girls, and the schools started on their new career on October I, 1903. The new Foundation Managers were the Vicar, Messrs. Ainger, Devereux and Walls. The Manager elected by the County was Mr. R. I. Drake, and by the Urban District, Mr. Heygate.
A similar board of Managers was appointed for Eton Wick schools.
IN the early part of the nineteenth century, parish work, as we now understand it, was unknown. The Provost, although Rector, took little part in parish matters, and the care of the people and of the little Chapel was left almost entirely to the Conducts. The services were bald and unattractive, and too often perfunctorily discharged. There was little or nothing else attempted in those days for the benefit of parishioners.
At last the wave stirred by the Evangelical Movement at Cambridge and the Church Movement at Oxford reached Eton.
George Augustus Selwyn from the former University, and Henry John Chitty Harper from Oxford, came to Eton as private tutors in 1831, both remarkable for physical vigour, and both men of strong character and with strong religious convictions. Two men like these could not be content to be idle. Selwyn took up vigorous work in New Windsor, the Vicar of which resided at Datchet, and Harper as Conduct inaugurated a new state of things in Eton. The poor were now for the first time regularly visited, the services were carefully and reverently performed, the sermons were full of earnestness and contained real and effective teaching.
It was by the energy of the same Conduct that the schoolroom at Eton Wick was built, and a service held in it for the benefit of the villagers. The erection of this was affected in 1840 at the cost of £259, the ground being generously granted by Mr. William Goddard at a nominal annual rent of 10s.
The first of these, Selwyn, was in 1841 called to be first Bishop of New Zealand ¹, and in later life was Bishop of Lichfield; Harper, after holding for some years the Vicarage of Mortimer, joined his old comrade as Bishop of Christchurch and later became Primate of New Zealand.' But the influence of such lives by no means passed away with their removal from Eton. Others were stirred by-their example and enthusiasm, and the good work thus begun was carried on by those who followed them, with good effect, and bore lasting fruit.
An additional stimulus was given to Church life a few years later by the transference of the County of Bucks from the Diocese of Lincoln to that of Oxford. This took place in 1847. Samuel Wilberforce was then Bishop of Oxford, and by his vigorous leadership and persuasive eloquence he infused a new spirit into the whole Diocese. The last visit of the Bishop of Lincoln was on April 16, 1846, when he consecrated as the Church burial place the ground and chapel now known as the Eton Cemetery.
The old Church-yard adjoining the College Chapel had for the most part been closed ² and interments of parishioners had taken place in the ground behind the little chapel.
Henceforth with rare exceptions³ all funerals took place in the new ground. The first burial was on January 6, 1847.
But a still more important step was in contemplation. It was resolved in 1850 that a larger Chapel and one more worthy of the place should be built, and the result was the erection of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, the present Parish Church.
The design was prepared by Mr. Ferrey for the accommodation of 11oo people. The total cost was £10,456.
The foundation stone was laid on October 21, 1852, by Prince Albert, and the Consecration took place on June 1, 1854. The Sermon on this occasion was preached by Bishop Selwyn, who was paying a visit to England.
The Dedication was celebrated by a dinner given to the poor on Fellows' Eyot.
The following are the original dimensions: total length, 156 feet; length of nave, 103 feet; width of nave 23 feet 6 inches, height 66 feet; width of aisles, 13 feet; width of chancel, 23 feet; tower and spire, 160 feet.
The site was given by the Provost and Fellows of Eton College with a subscription of £500. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert gave £100, and many generous sums were given by Eton Masters and townspeople, and not least by the Rev. S. F. Marshall, then a Conduct.
The Rev. E. Coleridge contributed largely and collected among his pupils a total sum of £1155. It is an easy and somewhat ungracious task to criticise, in the light of later experience, the wisdom of those who have gone before, but it would now be generally admitted that some grievous mistakes were made in the building of St. John's Church.
It was built on too large a scale and for a greater population than Eton was ever likely to have. It was somewhat too ambitious in design, and yet wanting in solidity. The pillars were too slender. Both east and west windows were unnecessarily large. Unfortunately, an overzealous portion of the Committee brought about an alteration in the original plans, viz. the addition to the nave of clerestory windows, with, as a necessary consequence, a much higher roof. This spoilt the proportions both within and without and paved the way to subsequent disasters.
With determined devotion the Rev. E. Coleridge had raised a magnificent sum expressly for the chancel, and it was proposed to beautify this in various ways. But the increased cost incurred in the nave necessitated the sacrifice of this purpose, and he was persuaded to sink his offering in the general fund; a step that he never ceased to regret, and the chancel was left bare and unadorned, and remained so for many years.
But there was a worse mistake than this. The contractor's work was imperfectly executed, and his workmen took advantage of an incompetent clerk of the works, and not only laid most of the foundations in bad concrete but neglected to secure many of the bolts of the lofty roof.
The rough winds which sweep across South Meadow found this weakness out, and soon not only loosened the roof and cracked the walls, but threw several of the pillars out of the perpendicular, and when after thirty-six years (in 1893) the cause of the mischief was discovered, it could only be remedied by underpinning the walls and by the removal of the clerestory, and the lowering of the nave roof by seven feet. This entailed the heavy cost of £1400.
Yet another mistake was made. It had been hoped that the building of such a Church would have brought together those parishioners who had, for want of space or other reasons, either neglected worship altogether, or sought the means of grace in Churches or Chapels out-side the parish, but unfortunately the grand opportunity for uniting all classes, and helping them to realise their common brotherhood and common responsibilities, was missed. By the system adopted of appropriating sittings, class distinctions were perpetuated, and grievous offence given in many quarters, and several families drifted off to Nonconformist societies, where their presence would be more welcomed.
But those were days when as, yet the democratic principles of the Church were little understood. We can see the mistake now and can only.; deplore the hindrance to true Christian progress which was thus unwittingly created.
For several years the whole of this large Church was destitute of ornament; the walls were of cold white stone and the windows devoid of all colour. Some of the early attempts made to correct these defects can hardly escape criticism, nor can the attempt to colour the pillars be reckoned a success.
But at least the chancel has now a fairly dignified appearance and is worthy of the intentions which were frustrated at the time of its erection. We give in an appendix⁴ a list of various gifts and improvements effected at different times. They testify to the interest taken in their Church by those who worshipped there, and their desire to do their best for the glory of God.
The last important step taken before the Provosts of Eton ceased to be incumbents of the parish, was the building of a Church at Eton Wick. For some years previously the three Conducts, who practically carried on all the spiritual work of the parish, had voluntarily held a Sunday evening service in the little schoolroom there, but, with the growth of this hamlet, this room became intolerably crowded, and wholly insufficient for the purpose. As it could not be licensed for the administration of the Sacraments, all who lived there had to come into the town both for these and for the privilege of joining in Sunday morning worship.
The movement for a Church began with a meeting of the people of Eton Wick, at which seventy-five house-holders promised subscriptions which were to be collected weekly for a year.
With this proof of earnest purpose before them, the parishioners of Eton generally were soon stirred up to carry on the work, and a suitable site being given by the Crown in Sheepgate, the foundation stone of St. John the Baptist's Church was laid by Provost Goodford on August 4, 1866. The architect was Mr. (afterwards Sir Arthur) Blomfield. The following names appear as serving on the Building Committee: Provost Goodford, Rev. J. Shephard, Rev. W. B. Marriott, E. Warre, W. J. Sanders, W. Goddard, J. Cross. The Church was designed to hold i 8o persons, and cost altogether 57 3. It was consecrated on June 22, 1867, by the Bishop of Oxford (Samuel Wilberforce). As all other liabilities had been met and the Church started quite free from debt, the collections at the Dedication, amounting to 122, were devoted to the purchase of Communion vessels for the use of the Church. The Bible, Prayer Book, and Altar Book were presented by Mr. E. P. Williams.
Notes
1 A brass in memory of Bishop Harper is on the wall of the College Chapel just outside the south entrance to the Ante-Chapel.
2 The last burial was of Frances Coke Denman Hodgson, October 21, 1853, age 9, but this was by special privilege.
3 The last burial in that ground was of Sydenham Holt, age 24, June 3, 1854.
4 Appendix II., page 91.
THE end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth were marked by unusual storms and much distress. In 1774 occurred the highest flood on record. The water on that occasion, according to a memorandum in the College Buttery, was 2 ft. 4 in. deep in the cellar under the Hall, and heavy floods and a notable storm occurred a few years later when many trees were demolished, and much other damage done.
In 1809 six of the central arches of the old Fifteen Arch Bridge were carried away, and in 1826 or 1827 the whole of the High Street was under water and many of the inhabitants were driven up to the first-floor rooms and received supplies of food through the windows; an unpleasant experience which was repeated in the Wellington flood of 1852, and again in 1894. But there were graver troubles still.
In 1803 the threatened invasion of England by Bonaparte was exciting the country generally, and volunteers were being raised for defence.
Eton was not behindhand in furnishing its quota of men. Upwards of 200 inhabitants volunteered their services; out of these, forty-two were selected, and a fund was raised to assist the Government in providing them with clothing and equipment.
The Eton Poor Estate with its usual generosity con-tributed twenty guineas for this purpose, and James Rogerson, Bridge Master for the year, was directed to hand over this sum to the Provost, Dr. Davies. In connection with the same event, a general meeting was called in 1804 for providing substitutes for those who had been drawn for the Militia.
The next twenty years were years of depression. Food was dear, bread a costly luxury, work was scarce, and taxes enormous. The resident population at that date was 2026. The total amount of parish rates amounted to £1603 3s. 8d.: the rate was at six shillings in the pound. The result appears in the accounts of the Eton Poor Estate, in the unusual amount of uncollected rents, and in grants made to meet the wants of the necessitous poor.
The death by drowning in 1834 of Jack Hall, who had been for nearly half a century a fisherman and servant of Eton College, led to the formation of the Eton and Windsor Royal Humane Society, and another sad accident at a much later date to a town-boy in Cuckoo Weir stream was the occasion for starting a regular bathing-place for the lads of the town under proper supervision. Both these institutions have proved lasting benefits to the town.
In 1837 the first Eton Post Office was opened. The year 1846 saw the removal of the Christopher Inn from its former position in College to the High Street. It had long been a source of anxiety to Eton Masters, and Dr. Hawtrey at last succeeded in effecting its removal. The ground at the back, on which the Queen's Schools are built, appears in the map as Christopher Close, and the house fronting the street, now known as Christopher's, still represents part of the hospitable inn, famous in many stories of olden days.
At the same time several adjoining shops were pulled down to make room for College houses, but even in the fifties there were small shops both opposite the entrance to the School-yard and on the Slough Road near the ' New Schools.'
One other event must be included in this chapter, the coming of the Great Western Railway, and the building of the viaduct across some of the Lammas land.
It had originally been intended that the main line of this railway should pass through Windsor, Reading and Oxford. But the University of Oxford objected to such a dangerous innovation, and a like objection was raised by the authorities of Windsor Castle and Eton College, and the railway was diverted and constructed at a more respectful distance. It was not long before the desirability of a branch line from Slough to Windsor was mooted, but again an attempt was made to thwart it. A meeting of the inhabitants of Eton was summoned on October 2, 1846, to consider the threatened invasion. Although the requisition for the meeting was signed by the most influential people in the place, with the Provost at the head of the list, the opposition collapsed, and the project was carried through: the railway authorities were however obliged to place a watchman on the line to keep Eton boys from endangering their lives or the lives of passengers. This was continued to a late date in the century.
But the coming of the railway affected the parish in another way. Compensation had to be paid by the Company to the parish, for the extinguishment of commonable rights, to the amount of £246 5s. id. This money remained in the hands of Trustees for many years and the Eton public were often asking the question at the annual vestry meeting as to the use to be made of it. Many proposals were made, but no satisfactory decision was reached for many years. At last in 1896 it was agreed that the proceeds of this, and another like compensation paid by the Local Board, should be spent in recreation grounds for Eton and Eton Wick. The fund having accumulated to £950, this was agreed to, and £650 of this was allotted to Eton and £300 to Eton Wick.
In 1854 the Eton Gas Light Company was started, and gas was supplied to the town and College at 8s. per 1,000. Hitherto the town had been lighted with oil.
IN the middle of the eighteenth century there was very little life in the Church of England, except among the few who were stirred by John and Charles Wesley, and these for the most part met with but little sympathy from their fellow churchmen. Generally speaking, church worship was cold and dreary, and the sermons preached were dry moral essays. As far as can be gathered, Eton was no exception to this state of things. A tombstone in Old Upton Churchyard has a significant inscription, which reflects on the times. " Here lies the Body of Sarah Bramstone of Eton, Spinster, a person who dared to be just, in the reign of George the Second, obiit Jan. 30, 1765, aetat. 77."
It has already been stated that the Collegiate Church was intended by Henry VI. to serve as Parish Church for the people, as well as the Chapel for the Foundation and School; and had his original design of a spacious nave been carried out, there would have been no need of any other buildings for the accommodation of the townspeople and parishioners. They would probably have had their own nave services, as is the case in some Cathedrals and in Merton College, Oxford. But in the course of two centuries the School had grown beyond his calculations, and nearly 400 Oppidans had to be accommodated, as well as the King's Scholars. The consequence was that the Church was overfilled, and the tradespeople and poorer parishioners, already ill provided for, were little by little crowded out.
We can easily imagine the results. Many, finding themselves little welcomed, drifted off to Windsor, and a century later Windsor Church was popularly spoken of in Eton as 'the Parish Church'; others sought spiritual help in those dissenting communities which were then springing into existence, while with many others this unfortunate condition of things was the beginning of indifference and of the entire neglect of common worship.
At last the evil impressed itself on a member of the College, the Rev. William Hetherington. In his desire in some measure to meet the wants of the townspeople, he built, at his sole expense, a small Chapel of Ease in the High Street, near the entrance of the approach to the present Church. As far as can be learnt, it was a very miserable building, and a very poor substitute for what was still the Parish Church, but it was better than nothing, and no doubt was the means of saving many in the parish from spiritual destitution. This building was consecrated on September 8, 1769, and stood till 1819. At the same time, and probably from the same source, £200 was invested and conveyed to the College for the repairs of this building and was in 1875 transferred by the College to the Vicar and Churchwardens. The College also undertook to allow a competent provision for a minister to officiate there. This same Mr. Hetherington is note-worthy as the founder of a most useful London charity for the blind.
The population of the town seems to have further increased somewhat at the beginning of the next century. A census taken in 1811 gives the number in the parish as 2279; there were then 314 inhabited houses, 430 families, 272 persons employed in trade, etc., and twenty in agriculture.
One consequence of this increase was that the first Chapel of Ease became too small, and accordingly in 1819 the Provost and Fellows undertook to rebuild it on a larger scale. The first stone was laid on August 5, and it was opened on October 29 in the next year. The Windsor and Eton Express of November 5, 1820, gives the following report.
" On Saturday last, the new Chapel at Eton, which has been erected by the liberality of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College, was opened for Divine Service.
" An admirably appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. J. B. Sumner (one of the Fellows, after-wards Archbishop of Canterbury). The Chapel is a very neat building, particularly in the interior, which is fitted up with great elegance. A most tasteful altar-piece has been presented to their native town by Mr. Ingalton and Mr. Evans, artists, of Eton, which in design and execution is highly creditable to their talent. We understand that a subscription has been raised by the inhabitants for the purpose of marking their grateful sense of their obligation to the College of Eton, by furnishing the Chapel with some handsome Communion Plate."
This report no doubt fairly represented the taste of the day, but those who remember this Chapel describe it as mean and unsightly, both inside and out. Outside, against the east wall, and flush with the street, stood the parish watchman's box. Within there were galleries on three sides, and high pews facing the pulpit, which stood near the west end, so that, except in part of the Communion Service, when it was the custom for the congregation to face east, the backs of most people were turned to the altar. " The tasteful altar-piece " consisted of the Ten Commandments, illuminated, and supported by cherubs. A well-known Etonian of the last generation, then a little boy, William Adolphus Carter, is said to have sat for one of them.
Until 1832, when a barrel organ was introduced, the hymns were accompanied by a band consisting of several instruments, such as comets, flutes and violins, played by young men living in Windsor and Eton.
The services (they were but few) were under the care of the Conducts¹ of the College Chapel. The expenses were wholly defrayed by the College, and the worshippers there, as in too many English parishes, grew up in ignorance that it is the duty and privilege of church, people to maintain their place of worship and to contribute to the support of their ministers.
The Communion Plate mentioned above was presented to the College and was by them transferred to the parish in 1875.
The attempts thus made by the College to meet the wants of the town were not however considered satisfactory. The comment of a much respected townsman, made some seventy years ago, probably represents the sense of grievance expressed in the town generally. He writes : " This was very kind indeed, but it placed the townspeople in a false position in regard to the Parish Church, and so they have remained ever since, for in course of time it was supposed that this was the place of worship belonging to the town, and that the College had an exclusive right to the Parish Church."
The interests of the town and the College also appear in opposition in another matter, and in October 1796 a case was tried at Quarter Sessions at Aylesbury between them. The College had pleaded exemption from the payment of Poor Rate on its property, but the decision was to the effect that the College was rightly liable. Since then, it has contributed its share of the rate.
But if sometimes there was a clashing of interests between the residents on the two sides of Barns Pool Bridge, there were also occasions when they fought side by side.
In 1826 an attempt was made to bring into Parliament a Bill called the Eton Enclosure Bill, which would have done away with those Lammas rights described in Chapter I. By an energetic representation to the Commons, this Bill was defeated on May 1 by a majority of 173. The victory was celebrated in Eton with feastings and bonfires.
A banner designed for the occasion, preserved for many years by the late John Harding at the " Crown and Cushion," is still in existence and is the property of Mr. H. J. Hetherington. On one side it is adorned with an illuminated inscription:
The glorious 1st of May 1826.
173.
On the other is emblazoned:
May Eton flourish and ever protect her rights.
Some twenty years later another attempt was made to override these same Lammas rights by Mr. Thomas Hughes, who built two houses on Lammas ground oppo-site Eton Wick. An action was brought against him, and the case was tried at Aylesbury with the result that he was compelled to pull down his houses. This second triumph was also celebrated with rejoicings.
Later in the century some exceptions were made in cases where the ground enclosed, or the building erected, was for the general benefit of the parish. But this concession was only granted after a unanimous vote of ratepayers, assembled at a public meeting.
1 Conductitii Capellani, i.e. hired Chaplains. They were appointed by the Provost for seven, and later for ten, years, and were then entitled to certain of the College livings if a vacancy occurred.
OLD DAYS OF ETON PARISH by The Rev. John Shephard, M.A. was published in 1908 by Spottiswoode and Co Ltd. The text is has been copied from the original book that is now out of copyright.
