Early Schools, Steeple Langford

In 1818 there were four small schools for a total of 67 children. Only children too young to be working in the fields attended. These may well have been dame schools, which were small schools run by women, often from their own homes. Those in Steeple Langford had disappeared by 1833. In 1846, two Sunday schools catered for the needs of youngsters. Their vicar suggested that the east aisle of the church should be extended in 1856 to provide a permanent schooling area, but this was resisted and did not come into fruition. In 1858 local farmers violently opposed the building of any schools, presumably because either they would lose a cheap source of young labour in the fields, or that they would be expected to subscribe to the building and maintenance. In Warburton's report it states, '15 to 20 children are kept out of mischief in two cottages'.