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1939 Education Week

Education Week 1939

Firstly, sorry about the poor quality of this photo, it’s taken from my “Education Week” booklet, published late 1938 or very early in 1939. Brighton Education Week was between 18th – 25th February 1939, and its purpose was to “bring home vividly to the people of the district the vital importance of the work of schools.”  Its clear that “storm clouds were already gathering in Europe”, as the introduction states; if the democracies are to maintain their position, they should not rely on armed strength alone, but also moral strength.  To achieve this, the education system needs to develop well balanced citizens.

An old school

The caption for the photo says “an old school” I studied it carefully for some time, but was unable to determine where it was.  I thought it might be somewhere in the Hanover area, but even with the help of Google, I was mystified as to where!  It seemed to be a perfect photo for Mystery Photos of Brighton and Hove, however when I transferred it to my computer, and was able to examine more closely, I realised where it was.  I felt stupid as this was the second time I had been puzzled by Elder Place.

The mystery

The photo was taken from almost exactly the same location and angle as the WWII bomb damage photo I added in May this year.  In fact it’s probable that the school seen in the 1938 photo, suffered serious bomb damage just a few years later, and was demolished afterwards.  I checked on my 1930 OS Brighton map, and it does indicated a school in Elder Place, however it doesn’t name it, so the mystery is, what was the name of the school?

An Old School
From the Education Week booklet owned by Peter Groves
Education Week Booklet
Education Week booklet owned by Peter Groves

Comments about this page

  • My Pikes Directory 1925 shows it as St Bartholomew’s Infants School.

    By Geoffrey Mead (14/12/2015)
  • Hi Peter. According to Kelly’s, it was St Bartholomew’s Infant School.

    By Janet Beal (14/12/2015)
  • Hi Peter.  It was St. Bartholomew’s Infant School at 14 Elder Place. On October 12th 1942 a bomb in the rear gardens there demolished the building and killed an elderly lady living at No. 16.   Regards Andy

    By Andy Grant (15/12/2015)
  • That was too easy, there are some more difficult ones in Education Week!

    By Peter Groves (17/12/2015)

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