National Girl's School, Downton

In 1786 Emma Noyes bequeathed £200 to endow schools at Charlton and East Downton. A small girls' school, managed by the vicar, was started in Downton and this was probably the forerunner of the National School. A school was built in Barford Lane in 1830 and in 1833 there were 47 girls attending. A National Sunday and Day School for 230 children was built in Barford Lane in 1846 and enlarged in 1850 by Mrs Clarke, widow of the vicar. By 1857 there were between 90 and 100 pupils and this had risen to 120 pupils by 1899 when there were separate departments for girls and infants.

By 1914 there was accommodation for 47 infants and 129 older pupils and an average attendance of 96, a figure that remained constant until the Second World War. By now the school had been taken over by Wiltshire County Council and in 1920 it is referred to as the Church of England School. Up until 1938 it remained an elementary school for all ages, up to 14 years, but after that date it was used for infants and juniors, with the children aged over 11 years going to the Gravel Close school. In 1964 all remaining pupils were transferred to the Gravel Close school and in 1975 the buildings were converted into a church hall.