Early Schools, Semington
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In a bequest of 1699 Thomas Somner of Wellow , Somerset, left £2 per year which was the income from lands in Steeple Ashton, Littleton and Semington, to provide for the schooling of two poor boys from Semington. The number of boys benefitting from this bequest had risen to four by 1819 but had reduced again by 1833. At the time of his death Somner owned Passion's Mill, later to be named Littleton Mill.
By 1799 a Sunday School was in existence and funded by a number of the more wealthy inhabitants of Semington. Mr. David Marks was the schoolmaster but after his death, assumed to be in 1803, his widow took over the running of the school until 1811. Records of subscriptions are extant from 1799 to 1839 and attendance registers, showing a variety of reasons of absence, from 1803 to 1810.
According to the Education Enquiry Abstract of 1835 reporting to the House of Commons, by this date two schools existed in Semington, attended by 24 boys and 18 girls. Eight of the children were funded by the vicar and his curate in addition, it is assumed, to the two benefitting from the Somner bequest.
By 1799 a Sunday School was in existence and funded by a number of the more wealthy inhabitants of Semington. Mr. David Marks was the schoolmaster but after his death, assumed to be in 1803, his widow took over the running of the school until 1811. Records of subscriptions are extant from 1799 to 1839 and attendance registers, showing a variety of reasons of absence, from 1803 to 1810.
According to the Education Enquiry Abstract of 1835 reporting to the House of Commons, by this date two schools existed in Semington, attended by 24 boys and 18 girls. Eight of the children were funded by the vicar and his curate in addition, it is assumed, to the two benefitting from the Somner bequest.