Mr. Fred Rosevear of 29 Exeter Gate, South Molton interviewed by Mr. Dellorzo on 17th January 1978 about South Molton United Schools c 1906 – 1908
When I left school at 13 I took an office job and stayed there for ten years. During those years the firm began to go down and things were getting difficult. I started thinking about doing something else. Somebody told me there as a big chance for teachers who hadn’t gone through college. I went to one of the inspectors whom I knew and broached the subject to him and he said, yes it was worth trying. In fact, he said, I know very well where there’s a school at present very shorthanded and I feel sure that the headmaster there will be very glad to have anybody reasonably well educated that’s got no teaching qualifications. Then I went from him to another inspector of religious subjects, “Oh, yes”, he said “I have one in mind I could put you on straight away and I’m sure he’d be very grateful although you haven’t done any teaching before”. (This was South Molton United Boys School). So I accepted that and applied for the post and got it, of course, and came down here in June 1906.1 I was met at the station by the headmaster, Mr. F. Gard and he took me up to his house in South Street and he said “Now I have looked up one or two lodgings and we will go around and see which of them you would like”. I went to two places; the second one was with Mrs. Terraneau up in North Road. I decided on that although it was a bit dearer than the other one. But we got to be very, very good friends lasting right up to the time of her death.
The headmaster just mentioned, Mr. Gard and there was Mr. Fred Pady, he was the first assistant, and there was one other, Mr. Jack Bond who I think came from North Molton and still lived in North Molton and with myself there were just the four of us, and also, if you can call them part of the staff, there were four pupil teachers. One was Malcolm Shave, another was Maurice Clark; they were both residents of South Molton; there was Jimmy Webber who came from Romansleigh and Harry Northcott, but I am not quite sure I remember where he came from, I think he was local.2
South Molton United Boys School c 1901
There were no ladies on the staff, the girls and boys were kept very much apart and
teachers. The entrance on the left was the boys’ going up from North Street and
on the right was the girls’. There was practically no contact at all. What happened
between the pupils, of course, I don’t know. But as I say there were four pupil
teachers in our school. The girls’ school, all under the same roof, but they had
a separate entrance on the right-
Q. While you were at South Molton, you took your teacher’s certificate?
A. The preliminary – the first one – not the final. The four pupil teachers and myself; they were learning teaching, the same as I was, because I was only a beginner, and the headmaster used to give us quite a number of lessons, free from teaching or helping, so that we could work up for our preliminary certificate examination which was held in Barnstaple in the December. When once I got through the preliminary, I went back to Exeter in 08 [1908] and had to study a little bit harder for the final, which I eventually did pass in 1909.
Q. About how many children were there in the school?
A. It is rather difficult to estimate but I should think about 140 or 150.
Q. That was girls and boys?
A. No girls, only boys.
The girl’s school was entirely separate. As a matter of fact, I do not think I ever met the headmistress, Miss Rose she was, but I can’t remember meeting her at all and, as I say I never did [know] anything about what pupil teachers they had in there. Unless there was any looking over the walls separating the boys’ playground from the girls, I do not know, but I never saw anything.
Q. You had the usual seven standards in the Boys’?
A. Yes, and the way they were arranged. They were arranged in three classrooms. The headmaster used to take standards 5, 6 and 7 with my help; standards 3 and 4 were under Mr. Pady and standards 1 and 2, I think, were in the charge of Mr. Bond whom I have already mentioned.
Q. The children had to leave at fourteen didn’t they whatever position in the school they were?
A. I don’t know. They left at fourteen, and might have been earlier than that but they all left at the end of the term when they were fourteen. If they were in the top standards when they were thirteen they could leave if they wanted.
Q. Do you remember any children who were at the school when you were there who still live in South Molton?
A. I do not remember them but three or four remembered me. They came up to me when I came back in 1944 and said, “Do you remember me?” I looked at him and said, “I cannot say I do” but he said, “Well you ought to because you taught me”. I remember two very plainly.
One was that Mr. Avery who used to keep a little grocer’s and sweet shop in King Street;3 the other was, I think, connected with the solicitor’s office; I forget his name. The other one, I didn’t get to know his name, but when I came down here to live, we were sitting on a seat one day and he accosted me and said, “Do you remember me”? I said I hadn’t the least idea. I can’t even remember now who it was, but he was getting on in life.
Q. The children came up to you from the infant’s school?
A. That’s right, and the headmistress there was a Mrs. Shave,4 the mother of one of our pupil teachers [Malcolm Shave]
Q. And I suppose the present Mr. Shave, he was the son of your teacher, wasn’t he?
A. No, he was the nephew. I do not know who was in charge of Shave’s (shop) then but I know Malcolm Shave was one of the pupil teachers and he went to college when he passed his preliminary examination. He trained as a proper teacher and he died very soon after. The uncle was the one I knew.
Q. The children came up from the Infants’ school – I asked you that – was it in the New Road then?
A. Exactly the same as it is now, as far as I know except that the additional classroom was built in the playground. It seems to me to be just the same.5
Q. They came up at seven, I suppose?
A. I presume so, yes.
Q. You don’t remember any children who went on to further education from the schools?
A. No, not at all. Of I course I left in 08 [1908]
Q. You said you did remember one very bright boy?
A. That boy, he was called Fred Norton. He was very, very good at writing English essays and he was so outstanding that he is the only one I remember.
Q. Did the children in the school go up automatically every year?
A. I should think so. I cannot remember them ever having any examinations for the purpose of going up. In fact, I do not remember any examinations ever being held there.
Q. The subjects that were taught?
A. Chiefly, as far as I can remember, in fact, about the only ones were the three R’s. We used to have as a rule, I should say, one lesson a week on nature study, but as regards ordinary history and geography, I cannot remember except that one of the managers, by the way, I only knew two – the vicar, the Rev. F. M. Wallington, and another one, he was called Day, I can’t remember his initials. He, I believe had done quite a good bit of travelling, and every so often he’d come up and give a talk to the top part of the school and the vicar would sometimes come in and give a talk as well, and we always opened with a religious subject. I cannot remember whether there was any music in the school at all but we opened with a prayer and an extract from the bible, and the vicar used to come and have a talk with the school fairly frequently. There was one other important member. I do not know exactly what status you should give him, but he would be secretary I suppose of the governors. He used to bring our salaries once a month so he was a very important individual I forget his name now.
Q. Did each teacher teach the whole of the subjects to their classes?
A. Yes, I never remember any of the teachers being transferred to give any special lesson at all. Every teacher took all subjects. I cannot remember a bit about the history and geography unless that’s why we had those visitors come in you see. There was a proper garden at the top of North Road and of course there was the football. They were the only two outdoor activities I can think of.
I cannot remember there being a common room. I know when it was fine we used to spend the morning break, practically all the four teachers walking up and down the playground. When it was very cold or very wet, I cannot remember a bit.
Practically every Sunday morning I used to go for a long walk. More often than not, I didn’t mind what the weather was – I could always turn my collar up. I usually went down Hacche Lane get up to the top of the hill on the other side, walk across to the left and finish up on the Barnstaple Road, very nearly out to Stags Head, and then find my way back. As far as I remember there were no buses in those days. I thoroughly enjoyed a walk. One that I remember very particularly was – I was still studying – and I remember the book I was reading, it was Charles Reades’ “Never too Late to Mend” and I walked all the way from South Molton as far as Simonsbath, reading my book, using my stick practically all the way, and as far as I remember I never met a soul, and after a rest at Simonsbath, I started to come home again.
Q. Do you remember any excursions from the town?
A. No, I never went on one. I cannot remember any of them going in a body but I
believe there was an annual excursion in connection with the church. Of course,
there was the railway to Barnstaple, and to Exeter. I could always go on the Taunton
side by rail and get out at Dulverton and from Dulverton we had the Exe Valley Railway.
There used to be a five-
Q. Do you remember the first cars in the town?
A. I can remember the first car that I had – what shall I say – any direct knowledge
of; that was the husband of the landlady where I was living, a Mr. and Mrs. Terraneau,
he was a clever engineer. In fact, he invented one or two things, including, I believe,
if I’m right, a ‘Chambers’ bicycle. It didn’t turn out very successful but it just
shows what sort of a man he was. He opened a cycle shop in Barnstaple Street7 and
eventually after I left he got his first open two-
Q. Did you have any problems as far as you can remember with the children?
A. No, I did not have any problems. In fact, I only thought of it yesterday. I can’t remember any discipline necessary. I never saw a cane. I never heard of a boy being kept in.
Q. Did you have any problems with attendance in the harvest time?
A. I cannot remember anything very great. I suppose some of the kids did stay home to help their parents but there was nothing very elaborate at all, nothing outstanding.
Q. The actual holiday periods?
A. I think they were like I said; about a fortnight at Christmas, four weeks in the summer, a week at Easter, a week at Whitsun, and I cannot remember anything in the way of half terms. They just went straight through. They had set holidays and that was that.
Q. So you had four terms and you would have Christmas to Easter, Easter to Whitsun, that would be a short one?
A. Easter to the summer holiday, August Bank Holiday, and then to Christmas and that was a long one. I always remember that at school because of the changeover from cricket to football.
Q. The buildings in the Square, the actual shops?1
A. As far as I can remember there as a pub at the corner, it was what they now call the Kings Arms; then there was the entry going up to the churchyard; on the right hand corner going in was a draper’s shop, that is where the International is now. Next to the International was a chemist’s shop and I believe at that time it was in the hands of Mrs. Harris – she might have left but of course it was a long time ago to remember people coming and going. I think she left and Mr. Graham took over, that is where Mrs. Sergeant worked with Mr. Graham and I think next door – I can’t remember that but the Conservative Club was where it is now; next door to that I haven’t got any memory. I seem to recollect an ironmonger’s being there, whether T. H. Moor was there or not, I do not know, but whoever was there must have left about then either then or to next door because that’s when Terraneaus left North Road after I had gone back to Exeter and went down there to live in the Square and has been there ever since.
Q. You reckon that Brooks had their shop…..
A. Oh, there was one other just below the Club going down towards the entry into the churchyard leading up to the Church main door, that was much as it is now, steps going up, but on the corner where is now the Midland Bank was a grocer’s shop but there again I can’t remember the name. The other side I think the National Provincial Bank was there then. I would not like to swear to it but I never went into that Bank and what would be between there and Duke Street I have not got any really clear recollection of.
Q. Of course Rockey’s, the draper’s, which was on the corner – she was an old lady when she packed up. She was not there, by any chance, on the corner of Duke Street?
A. I should not think so. She was pretty old, as you say, when she did die. Perhaps she and John Rockey might have been there.
Q. Of course, that is only a possibility.
A. Medical Hall that was there, that was much as it is now. I think it was Mr. Brown.
Q. What was at the corner of Duke Street?
A. There again, I cannot remember. You see, I really had very little occasion to go beyond North Street and the Post Office. You see, I was so busy studying that I never went out for tea. I never went to see the cricket club or the football match or anything like that; it was just a case of studying, going out to post my letters, I used to write to the wife every day and that with my studies practically took up all my time.
Q. The Pannier Market, I take it that was really much more busy on a market day?
A. Oh, it was a real market day then, on Thursday especially, oh yes, the amount of dairy produce that was brought in was amazing. Mrs. Terraneau used to go across every Thursday and Saturday I know and I used to bring home quite a bit. What the interior of the market was like of course I have not the faintest idea and I think it was much busier as you say and more stalls. Of course they did not have that building at the bottom of the market just before you get to the bottom entrance, there’s a big part cut off now.2
Q. I suppose most of the stallholders would be farmers’ wives.
A. I should think so. The chief produce that came in would be dairy produce and I believe there was a butcher’s stall there as well and of course the usual flowers and vegetables. As you say, mostly from the farms and the district around. They had the big market on Thursdays and one on Saturdays. Of course, the first Thursday in the month was always the biggest of all. 3
Q. In that respect, you were saying that Saturday afternoon was very quiet?
A. Well, I could come down from where I was lodging in North Road and perhaps not meet a soul, absolutely quiet. Whether the male population had gone to the football match or cricket match, I cannot say, but I hardly ever saw anybody. South Street was just as deserted. South Street and the Square were practically empty.
I would not like to vouch for the exact accuracy of everything, because don’t forget
I am talking about seventy years ago and I have been to two other schools since then
and also intertwined is my own schooldays, because the school I was in at Exeter
was much bigger than this one but the detail of the building was practically the
same. One long, very big classroom where they took from 5,6,7 ex 7; one very big
classroom where they had 1 and 2, and a smaller one where they had either just 3
or 3 and 4. So it was a very similar set-
Endnotes – written by Shirley Bray, December 2012 / April 2013:
1 “down here” = South Molton United School, North Street, South Molton which opened
in 1880 as a voluntary aided school for children aged 7-
2 I think he is talking about the pupil teachers in the boys school.
3 This row of shops was demolished in c 1960/1
4 Mrs. Isabella Victoria Shave was the headmistress of the South Molton Infant School from 1870 – 1912. Her husband, Lionel, started up a cabinet business in the town. The couple had 5 sons one of whom was Malcolm Shave, the pupil teacher. Their grandson, also called Malcolm Shave was running a furniture shop at 10 Broad Street when the recording was made; today 2013, the premises are used by Geofrey Clapp, Estate Agents and West Country Pictures..
5 The Infant school in New Road closed in 2001 when a new school for infants was opened in North Road, backing onto Gunswell Lane. Today (2013) the former Infant school is being used as a Police Station.
6 I presume that “she” refers to Mrs. Rosevear?
7 The 1910 Kelly’s Directory records William Terraneau as a Cycle Agent, Broad Street. Mr. Terraneau’s garage was at No. 22 Broad Street, South Molton.
Joseph Kingdon was the secretary to the United Schools at the time Mr. Rosevear was assistant teacher.
1 Broad Street – Kelly’s Directory 1910
No. 17 = Harvey, Hamilton James, Draper
No. 18 = Harris, Joseph Bastable, Chemist
No. 19 = William, Charles, grocer
No. 20 = Parker, William, Butcher
No. 21 = Constitutional Club
No. 22 = Terraneau, William, Cycle Agent
No. 23 = Martin, Arthur Walter Cross, Ironmonger
No. 24 and 25 = Hodge, John Samuel, linen and woollen draper, tailor, hatter, hosier & outfitter
No. 26 = Kingdon, Hargreaves, grocer (later demolished and Midland Bank (HSBC) built on site
No. 27 = National Provincial Bank (present day Nat West)
No. 28 = Ayres, Walter, boot and shoe maker
No. 29 = Clarke, Charles, watchmaker
No. 30 = Tanner, Lyddon, grocer
No. 31 = Rockey, John. Draper, milliner, tailor & outfitter
Medical Hall, 33 Broad Street = Brown, Sidney Stuckey, chemist & druggist, & agent for W. & A. Gilbey Limited, wine & spirit merchant
2 The lower section of the market was walled off for several years during the 1970s and polystyrene was made there.
3 Known as Great Market Day
Frederick John Rosevear was born on the 29th May 1893 and his death was registered at Barnstaple in the March quarter of 1983. He married Gertrude L. Rendle at Exeter in July 1910. The 1911 census records him living at Heavitree, Exeter with his wife Gertrude. His occupation is given as Assistant Elementary Teacher, DCC.
