Belchamp Walter School House

The "new" School House is now the Belchamp Walter Village Hall.

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.

JMSR 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 (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 R 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. J. M. S. 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 - 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.

Belchamp Walter School House

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