Does anyone know when the National School on corner of Carlton Hill and John Street was built?

I went to St Johns School. l was born 1944 and was about three years old when l went there. l remember little canvas beds for naps. I lived in Kingswood Flats, or Mansions it was called then.

I also went to that school, St John's infants. We then moved up the hill about a 100 yards to the brand new infants school, before going to the "big school across the road, which I see has now been bulldozed, pity really a lovely looking building. I always remember the headmasters huge study where one would get severly berated before getting a whack with a strap or cane, Mr Hambridge I think his name was, followed by a very meek and mild Mr Avery. Talk about chalk and cheese. Good times at that school, soon as the bell rang at the end of the day, it was a quick run across the road to explore the building site which is now the police station, there was usually a couple of lorry loads of sand delivered where the entrance is now, huge pile, like a pyramid, and we used to see how far up the scaffolding we dare climb, before launching ourselves out into the void. At the time it must have been about 15ft a couple of scaffold lifts, but in the playground the next day pointing across at the nick, it got higher and higher. After leaving St John's juniors, it was the next move up the hill, "the really big school" Queens Park. Happy days. Everything stemmed from Carlton Hill, all education for anyone from that area. Personally I was in Tarnerland Nursery, St John's infants, St John's juniors, up the hill to Queens Park, then back down the hill for 5 years at art and design college (printing). The whole world evolved around that hill, for a while anyway.

You are so right. What is your big brother doing? Would be good to be in contact with you both, and the rest of the people who come that area. We could tell some tales - the book would be a best seller! Kathleen Catt must stop writing, give someone else a chance!

I used to go to St John's infants and, like Alan Purton, I went up to the new school when that opened, then across the road. Also Mr Hambridge was my head master and I had many a good whack from him with the cane or strap. Plus I can also remember the John Street Police station being built as it was right outside my class room window. I can thank Mr Hambridge for one thing - he started me boxing and I ended up winning a school boy boxing cup which I found out was the ABA for school boys. The school did have a boxing team but I can't remember any names or who won or lost, the only thing I can remember were two brothers in the team. One name comes to mind, a friend who I bumped into a few years ago in Brighton - Tony Angel.

Hello Tarner Stories is a lottery funded History project and we are looking for people with memories and photos of the area. The images and stories would be used within a book or on a website. It's a really exciting project about an important part of Brighton's heritage. Please email info@tarnerhistory.org and contact Chloe or Jess

Hi, I have in my possession a hand tinted engraving of the "National School" with a dedication "To the Reverend HM Wagner Vicar of Brighton, Sussex. This print of the National School is respectfully dedicated by his obedient servant." I would be happy to send a jpeg if it is of any interest and or find a way it could be used in the building. Email quickbrick1942@aol.com