Spratt's School, Amesbury
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By his will of 1709 Henry Spratt of Southwark, Surrey, left money for 15 boys and 15 girls to be taught English and the catechism. This was a fairly unusual provision for equal education of girls and boys at this period. The school opened in 1711 although a schoolhouse does not seem to have been built until around 1715. A master was paid £20 a year to teach the children, who were required to attend regularly although time off for harvest work was allowed. The school continued through the 18th century and in 1818 there was a schoolmistress, paid £44 a year, who taught 45 pupils.
By 1832 the children, aged from 3 to about 9 years were being taught in the schoolmistress's house. The school continues as an elementary school having 16 pupils in 1858 and 27 in 1872. The school closed in 1896. From 1821 to 1896 there were three successive Miss Zillwoods as schoolmistress. The Zillwood family were greatly involved in local education as a Mr F. Zillwood was running a private school in Salisbury and then moved to open a school in Amesbury leaving his wife to run the Salisbury school until around 1870.
By 1832 the children, aged from 3 to about 9 years were being taught in the schoolmistress's house. The school continues as an elementary school having 16 pupils in 1858 and 27 in 1872. The school closed in 1896. From 1821 to 1896 there were three successive Miss Zillwoods as schoolmistress. The Zillwood family were greatly involved in local education as a Mr F. Zillwood was running a private school in Salisbury and then moved to open a school in Amesbury leaving his wife to run the Salisbury school until around 1870.