Parochial School, Milton Lilbourne

In 1833 the only school for a population of about 660 was one with nine infant boys and when a new school was provided in c.1854 it was still attended only by very young children. In 1858 and 1864 there were between 30 and 40 children who all left at an early age to go to work. Warburton's Report of 1858 states that the children are 'taught by a mistress in a stone building, detached (36 feet x 18 feet), faced with brick; the floor is also of brick, and the desks are placed along the wall.' Education was at an elementary level owing to the early age at which children were removed from school. We do not know whether the early age at which they left was because their parents needed them to earn a few pennies a week for the household or whether local farmers wanted child labour.

In 1864 several evening schools were held for young children who were working and by 1871 the day school had 52 pupils. However education in the parish was obviously still very poor as in 1876 the parish was compelled to form a school board that replaced the old school with a new school and schoolhouse in 1878. [See Elementary School]