Watts Naval School
Encyclopedia
Watts Naval School was originally the Norfolk County School, a public school set up to serve the educational needs of the 'sons of farmers and artisans'. The school was then operated by Dr Barnardo's
until its closure in 1953.
. It was surrounded by 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land in Bintry parish in the Bintry (or Bintree
as it is sometimes written) Hills.
The Norfolk County School was a public school was founded by Prebendary Joseph Lloyd Brereton
to serve the educational needs of the sons of farmers & artisans as part of his experiment in County Education. The foundation stone was laid on Easter Monday 1873 by Edward Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII). The school opened in 1874. The school also had an open-air swimming pool.
The property consisted of a central building, with a Principal's House attached to the north end of the building. A laundry was provided at the south end of the intersection. At the north end of the fifty-four acre
site was a gardener's cottage. The western boundary of the property was marked by the River Wensum
, and an open-air 70 ft by 30 ft swimming bath was provided next to the river. A boat house owned by the school also stood on the banks of the river, and a cricket ground was provided on the eastern side of the main building.
A chapel, built of Bath stone, was erected in 1883 and consecrated on 16 October that year. In 1884 Brereton succeeded in getting railway access to the school through the County School station
built at the foot of the hill. Despite the improved communications, the school roll never reached the 300 for which it was designed, partly as a result of the depression in agriculture.
and was opened informally on 9 March 1903. The establishment was then used for the training of selected Barnardo's boys for a life at sea in the Royal Navy
or mercantile Marine. The school was opened by the Earl of Leicester G.C.V.O., C.M.G., T.D.
(and then Viscount Coke) on April 17, 1906. It was classified as a Secondary Technical School, with the technical instruction being nautical and with musical training for boys intending on being enlisted in the Royal Marines or other military bands.
The first Captain of the school was Commander H C Martin, a former captain of the training ship Warspite
, working with a staff of fifteen. The Rector of Kettlestone
was appointed as Honorary Chaplain, and medical care was provided by Dr Rackham from North Elmham. Initially only 100 pupils were sent to the school, with the remaining 200 arriving in batches of 50 to assist with the establishment of naval discipline.
The building was only slightly altered from its former use. The central hall was fitted with a heavy glass roof and a fire escape was fitted to the eastern side of the building, allowing it to be evacualted within three minutes. Every part of the school was heated with hot water and an acetylene
gas supply was installed. The central hall, classrooms, reception rooms and staff rooms were on the ground floor. The first floor was used for staff bedrooms, sleeping wards, linen and the storage of dry goods. The third floor included the dining hall, kitchens, dining rooms and more sleeping wards. The bathrooms, engine room (boilers) and offices were located in the basement. The school was also provided with an isolation hospital, built in the grounds.
The chapel was enlarged in 1926 with transepts added. The chapel seated all 300 boys and masters. The pulpit was a memorial to B Watson Esq, and two stained glass windows were added in memory of Frederick Humby, an old Watts boy who lost his life in the Titanic disaster.
, would be making arrangements and that the relocation of memorial tablets and windows was being considered.
The chapel memorial windows were removed by Barnardos, auctioned in 1978, and are now in private ownership in the USA.
Barnardo's
Barnardo's is a British charity founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866, to care for vulnerable children and young people. As of 2010, it spends over £190 million each year on more than 400 local services aimed at helping these same groups...
until its closure in 1953.
Norfolk County School
The Norfolk County School stood on the summit of a wooded hill with excellent views across the Wensum Valley near the village of North ElmhamNorth Elmham
North Elmham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,428 in 624 households as of the 2001 census. For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
. It was surrounded by 60 acres (242,811.6 m²) of land in Bintry parish in the Bintry (or Bintree
Bintree
Bintree is a village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England, about nine miles south-east of Fakenham. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 300....
as it is sometimes written) Hills.
The Norfolk County School was a public school was founded by Prebendary Joseph Lloyd Brereton
Joseph Lloyd Brereton
Prebendary Joseph Lloyd Brereton, , was an educational reformer and writer, who founded inexpensive schools for the education of the middle classes. Through his work and writings he influenced others to make similar foundations.-Life:Brereton was born on 19 October 1822 at Little Massingham...
to serve the educational needs of the sons of farmers & artisans as part of his experiment in County Education. The foundation stone was laid on Easter Monday 1873 by Edward Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward VII). The school opened in 1874. The school also had an open-air swimming pool.
The property consisted of a central building, with a Principal's House attached to the north end of the building. A laundry was provided at the south end of the intersection. At the north end of the fifty-four acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
site was a gardener's cottage. The western boundary of the property was marked by the River Wensum
River Wensum
The River Wensum is a chalk fed river in Norfolk, England and a tributary of the River Yare despite being the larger of the two rivers. The complete river is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation ....
, and an open-air 70 ft by 30 ft swimming bath was provided next to the river. A boat house owned by the school also stood on the banks of the river, and a cricket ground was provided on the eastern side of the main building.
A chapel, built of Bath stone, was erected in 1883 and consecrated on 16 October that year. In 1884 Brereton succeeded in getting railway access to the school through the County School station
County School railway station
County School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
built at the foot of the hill. Despite the improved communications, the school roll never reached the 300 for which it was designed, partly as a result of the depression in agriculture.
Watts Naval School
The school was closed in July 1895, and purchased by Edward Hannay Watts, who purchased it in 4 June 1901. Following his death, his eldest son, Mr Fenwick Shadforth Watts, had the fabric of the building renovated and furnished, at a cost of several thousand pounds, before handing it over to Dr Barnardo's Homes. It was turned into a home for up to 300 orphans and destitute boys under the charge of Dr T J BarnardoThomas John Barnardo
Thomas John Barnardo was a philanthropist and founder and director of homes for poor children, born in Dublin. From the foundation of the first Barnardo's home in 1870 to the date of Barnardo’s death, nearly 100,000 children had been rescued, trained and given a better life.- Early life :Barnardo...
and was opened informally on 9 March 1903. The establishment was then used for the training of selected Barnardo's boys for a life at sea in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
or mercantile Marine. The school was opened by the Earl of Leicester G.C.V.O., C.M.G., T.D.
Thomas Coke, 3rd Earl of Leicester
Thomas William Coke, 3rd Earl of Leicester GCVO, CMG, TD , known as Viscount Coke until 1909, was a British peer and soldier....
(and then Viscount Coke) on April 17, 1906. It was classified as a Secondary Technical School, with the technical instruction being nautical and with musical training for boys intending on being enlisted in the Royal Marines or other military bands.
The first Captain of the school was Commander H C Martin, a former captain of the training ship Warspite
HMS Waterloo (1833)
HMS Waterloo was a 120-gun first rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 10 June 1833 at Chatham.Waterloo was cut down to an 89-gun 2-decker and converted to steam at Chatham 1 April 1859—12 December 1859. Following the loss of the modern 101-gun steam 2-decker Conqueror in 1861,...
, working with a staff of fifteen. The Rector of Kettlestone
Kettlestone
Kettlestone is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 177 in 85 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk....
was appointed as Honorary Chaplain, and medical care was provided by Dr Rackham from North Elmham. Initially only 100 pupils were sent to the school, with the remaining 200 arriving in batches of 50 to assist with the establishment of naval discipline.
The building was only slightly altered from its former use. The central hall was fitted with a heavy glass roof and a fire escape was fitted to the eastern side of the building, allowing it to be evacualted within three minutes. Every part of the school was heated with hot water and an acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
gas supply was installed. The central hall, classrooms, reception rooms and staff rooms were on the ground floor. The first floor was used for staff bedrooms, sleeping wards, linen and the storage of dry goods. The third floor included the dining hall, kitchens, dining rooms and more sleeping wards. The bathrooms, engine room (boilers) and offices were located in the basement. The school was also provided with an isolation hospital, built in the grounds.
The chapel was enlarged in 1926 with transepts added. The chapel seated all 300 boys and masters. The pulpit was a memorial to B Watson Esq, and two stained glass windows were added in memory of Frederick Humby, an old Watts boy who lost his life in the Titanic disaster.
Closure
The school closed in 1953, with the remaining boys being transferred to other Barnardos training ship establishments, mostly on the south coast. Old boys concerned about the chapel were assured that Barnardo's Clerical Organising Secretary, working with the Bishop of NorwichBishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
, would be making arrangements and that the relocation of memorial tablets and windows was being considered.
Today
The main school building was demolished and the site returned to nature. Some of the remaining buildings still exist as ruins today, although most have been renovated and restored to domestic use. For some years the chapel was used as a piggery and a chicken farm was run on the site of the main school building, but following the closure of the poultry operation some five bedroom properties have been built on the site. The chapel survives as a private residence.The chapel memorial windows were removed by Barnardos, auctioned in 1978, and are now in private ownership in the USA.
Daily Routine
The boys were woken at 6.30, after which they attended an act of worship before having breakfast at 7.30. At 9.00 they would go to the central hall and fall in for inspection by the Captain, before marching off for lessons and drill. Dinner was served at 12.30, with the boys falling in for more school and drill at 2.00. At 4.00 they had a half-hour's special drill training. Tea was served at 5.30, with evening prayers and bed two hours later.Notable Old Boys
- Captain Frank BeckCaptain Frank BeckCaptain Frank Reginald Beck, MVO was a land agent, British soldier and a central figure in one of World War I's more enduring myths....
, King Edward VII land agent in its public school days. - Fred CopemanFred CopemanFred Copeman OBE was an English volunteer in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, commanding the British Battalion...
OBE. Royal Navy MutineerInvergordon MutinyThe Invergordon Mutiny was an industrial action by around 1,000 sailors in the British Atlantic Fleet, that took place on 15–16 September 1931...
, and subsequently Commander of the British BattalionBritish BattalionThe British Battalion was the 16th battalion of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.- Early volunteers :A number of British volunteers, including Tom Wintringham and Nat Cohen, arrived in Spain during August-September 1936 and formed the Tom Mann Centuria - a rifle company in...
of the XV International BrigadeInternational BrigadesThe International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
. - Sir John MillsJohn MillsSir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
, a famous British actor, was born at Watts Naval School, where his father was a master.
Heritage
- A photographic display, replica uniform and some small items from the school were displayed in the museum at County School railway stationCounty School railway stationCounty School is a railway station approximately one mile north of the village of North Elmham in the English county of Norfolk. The station is part of a line being gradually restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway from East Dereham to Fakenham.-History:...
until 2010. - An information board charting the history of the school was unveiled beside the school's graveyard during the centenary celebrations.