Belchamp Walter School House

Belchamp Walter School House - (Trust deed 1871)

The "new" School House is now the Belchamp Walter Village Hall. The building was opened as Belchamp Walter School in 1872.

The new school house was built to replace the Old School House which ran out of space in 1870.

The school house was closed in 1963 and is now used as the Belchamp Walter Village hall.

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Village Hall/School House

The description on English History website:

Village hall, former primary school, dated 1872 on stone plaque on north end.

Of red brick with stone window dressings and black brick diapering string bands and relieving arches.

Roofs are of Welsh slate with steep pitch and ornamental tile cresting. The north and south ends have terracotta cornices. Those facing east are gabled with small hips at the head and large bargeboards with splayed ends and quatrefoil piercings.

Of 'T' plan shape, but with single storey gabled porches on east, west and north ends.

The east entrance side has 2 dormer-like structures over the major windows. These have a varied number of tall lancet openings pierced through stonework. Internally the main hall has an exposed arch braced rafter roof.

John Mayne St. Clere Raymond's wife laid the foundation stone of the School House in 1872 - This was after he had repurhased the Manorial Lands (for its farm income) in 1863.

1872

There seems to be an inconsistancy with the recording in the events surrounding the commissioning, building and operation of the "new" village hall.

According to Samuel Philip's speech (Samuel Philip was known as Philip in the copy I have scanned) the "paper" was given to Walter Deal, presumably something to do with the school in 1972 (29th July).

Oliver Raymond was the vicar in 1872, the uncle of J. M. S. R. who is listed as the vicar of St. Mary's until 1889. Oliver Raymond was the rector of Middleton and vicar of Belchamp-cum-Bulmer.

Samuel Millbank Raymond and Oliver Raymond were brothers and sons of Samuel Raymond (d. 1825). J. M. S. Raymond was Samuel Millbank's son. John. Mayne. St. Clare Raymond took over the "residency" at St. Mary's after the opening of the school.

The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. J. M. S. Raymond (1871-1872) and the mallet and trowel are held currenty at Belchamp Hall.

At the time of opening (1872) the school management committee was:

Oliver Raymond ^{(G2 - there is an error on the Freer tree and should be G3)} - the Vicar (In this case it was Oliver Raymond, Rev., Rector of Middleton, Vicar of Belchamp-cum-Bulmer, * 1794, + 1889, Md. 1817, Anne Andrewes, + 1863, d. of Rev. Charles Andrewes, Rector of Flempton, Suffolk).
Vicar's Warden - Robert Firmin
People's Warden - Mr Charles Adams
Mr William Wright, Mr Henry Mann, Mr George Washington Brownlow,

The estate was "re-purchased" in 1865 by J. M. S. Raymond from Thomas Ruggles. It is not clear whether the school house was part of this estate. Most of the village suurounding the village pond at the cross-roads was owned by the Ruggles family during the years 1741 to 1865.

Repairs on the Village Hall

As the building is of Victorian heritage it requires on-going maintenance. The windows are in desperate need of renovation. Much of the wooded framing is rotting and the whole village hall needs painting.

1921 Auction

It is also not clear whether the school house was part of this auction. It is likely that it was not and the ownership of the School House was retained by the Raymond Estate.

Village Hall Lease

At the time of writing this there is no formal lease between the Parish Council (the owners) and the Village Hall Committee (the Charity).

At the time of the school closing there was a lease between the Village Hall committee and the Raymond family. It was then that there was an agreement that the BWVHC would be Management trustees and the PC would "hold" the lease. Since that time the freehold has been transferred to the Parish Council who are the legal owners of the Village Hall.

Webmaster Notes

Belchamp Walter School House - (Trust deed 1871)

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