Little Saxham used to have its own school! For nearly 90 years between about 1860 and 1947 one of the cottages opposite the church was turned into a school. The house is still known as The Old School House, although it looks nothing like a school nowadays. The playground is now the front garden.
These two photographs were taken about a hundred years ago.
The school never held more than about 35 children and they came not only from Little Saxham, but also from Great Saxham, Hargrave and Chevington.
Schoolteachers
1874 to 1891 - Mrs Elizabeth Elsden
1891 to 1900 - Miss Eleanor Boutle
1900 to 1922 - Mrs Martha Annie Riseley (pictured right in both pictures)
1925 to ? - Mrs E Crawley
The school reports of 100 years ago make sad reading:
10th February 1904
"The school fails to make much progress, chiefly owing to want of method."..."if (the rubbish heap) is not removed, the continued recognition of the school, which is a very poor type of building, may be jeopardised."
3rd November 1904
"Although there are only 24 children attending the school, their ages range from 3 to 13 and the mistress is single handed. The efficiency only reaches a fair level."
10th January 1905
"Closed school for one week on account of whooping cough. Attendees down to 9 scholars."
16th November 1906
"Attendances very poor owing to sickness among children. Freddie Edwards at school Monday and died Wednesday with croup."
29th July 1907
"School closed on account of teacher having met with an accident."
20th September 1907
"Many absences because of bad weather and long distances to walk."
The school house now is part of the end cottage of the row and has been converted back into a residence. There is no indication, other than the name of the house, of its former usage.
One former resident, Jean Willingham, now living in Bury St Edmunds, attended the school in the 1940s.