Charity School, Purton

The school began as the result of an endowment in the will of Miriam Stevens but under the terms that will it was not founded until 50 years after her death. The school started in 1776 when a schoolhouse was bought and a schoolmaster engaged. From around 1780 a cheap lease was obtained from Lord Shaftesbury for a house and garden in Purton Street, a schoolroom was added to this and the sshoolmaster lived in the house. In 1781 there were 10 children at the school, 15 in 1783 and by 1788 there was the agreed total of 20 children. In 1806 the building was altered to provide room for boarders and it would seem that fee paying boys were then taken in addition to the 20 poor boys.

In 1833 there were 40 boys, 20 of whom were fee paying. By 1836 the master was still receiving the original stipend of £16 a year for teaching 20 poor boys reading, writing and arithmatic but was probably earning more money from the fee paying boys. For the 20 original places education was free for two years and there were many applications. The school was still existing in 1840 but its history after that is uncertain. It may have become linked with the National School existing in 1842.