By GURNEY MacINNES, Chairman of the Trustees.

The announcement on another page in this issue that the trustees of the Watermillock Educational Foundation invite applications for grants for the current year marks the end of discussions and negotiations which have been going on since the closure of Watermillock School in 1948. It may be of interest to all residents in Watermillock to hear how this Foundation has come into being.

There was a school in Watermillock for well over 400 years. Unfortunately there appear to be few records giving us much information about its early history, but there is an interesting opportunity for research here. I am told that it is recorded that "there was a flourishing Grammar School in Watermillock in 1558" (the year of the consecration of the New Church), but I have not been able to trace this reference.

There are certainly records of the appointment of school-masters from 1698 onwards, several of them being clergy "licensed to Watermillock Curacy," which shows a close connection with the church.

DEED OF ENDOWMENT IN 1812

From the early 19th century there are more definite records. In 1812 a number of local residents drew up a deed of endowment "for the purpose of establishing a charity school in the township of Watermillock", £350 having been raised by subscription and "a further sum of about £90" being already in hand. (There also appears to be evidence of the existence of a previous endowment of the school).

This deed is still in the possession of the trustees, and will be shown in a historical exhibition, which will be held in Watermillock later this year, in connection with the 400^th anniversary of the consecration of Watermillock Church. It was followed by various deeds of endowment, conveyances, declarations of trust and bequests during the 19th century.

For example, in 1841 the land on which what was then known as "The Boys’ School" was built in 1860 was conveyed, by Mr William Marshall of Hallsteads. The house on the other side of the road, now known as "Under Crag," where the old Grammar School had apparently been carried on since the 16^th century became "The Master’s House" and was conveyed by Mr. H. C. Howard of Greystoke Castle in 1879. A Girls’ School, founded and maintained at the house now known as "Hazelhurst" for some years by Mr. John Marshall, was endowed with £500 by his widow in 1849, and .was conveyed to the trustees of the Boys’ School by Mr. W. H. Marshall in 1903. This school was closed in 1913 and the site was sold in 1930.

The funds of the trustees of the two schools were increased by various endowments, among these being bequests made by Mr. Benjamin Clossop "late of Greystoke and formerly of Lyulphs Tower;" who died in 1851, (£200); Mr. William Banks, who died at Goose Green in 1861 (£100); and Professor Jonathan Thompson; who died in 1894 (£500).

HELD PROFESSORSHIP IN SWITZERLAND

There is a photograph of Professor Thompson in the church vestry, with an inscription recording that he was a "member of a family who resided at Lowthwaite Farm for many centuries. He was an expert in 7 languages and became Collegiate Professor at St. Gall, Switzerland. He easily mastered Italian when over 70 years of age. Professor Thompson bequeathed £500 to Watermillock Grammar School where he said he had received an unusually good classical education."

The inscription goes on: "He gave the following advice to scholars: ~ The grand secret of success lies in being in earnest and in going the right way to work. Honesty, zeal and prudence not only help us out of difficulties, but what is far better, prevent us from becoming involved in any."

The Education Act of 1870, under which education became compulsory, naturally brought great changes in the administration of education throughout the country. But in Watermillock a body of trustees still remained responsible for administering for the benefit of the school the funds raised by subscription or bequest. The minute book still in use goes back to 1886, the year when a new scheme regulating the method of appointing trustees was made by the Charity Commissioners.

SChOOL CLOSED IN 1954

It is impossible to go into the later history of the school here, and I must pass on to 1948 when the Cumberland Education Authority decided that, owing to the small number of pupils, the school would have to be closed and the pupils transferred to Penruddock School. Many people regretted this decision, and attempts were made by the trustees to get it reconsidered. It was not, in fact, until 1954 that the permanent closure of the school was finally confirmed.

The trustees were naturally much concerned about the future use of the school property and endowments, but were unable to take any action until the closure of the school was made final. Under the Education Act of 1944, the endowments of schools specifically linked with the Church of England were, in the event of the closure of such schools, to be used for other Church schools in the diocese. But the Watermillock School was not specifically linked with the Church of England in any of the deeds regu1ating the Foundation, but was, in the words of a letter from the Ministry of Education, "Church of England by usage only.

NOT IN DIOSCESAN SCHEME

The Foundation was not therefore included in the scheme made for the Carlisle Diocese under the Act of 1944. The trustees were at the same time informed that "in due course, the Minister (of Education) hopes to be in a position to issue notice of an amending scheme for the Foundation but it is unlikely that he will be able to do this for a considerable time."

The trustees were unable to dispose of the property - the school building itself and the School House on the other side of the road - as under the School Sites Act of 1841, if such property ceased to be used for the purpose for which it had .been conveyed, the land and any buildings thereon, reverted to the estate of the grantors. The school itself reverted in this way to the Marshall estate in 1956 and was subsequently sold for conversion into a dwelling house. The School House reverted to the estate of Miss Howard of Greystoke, who
subsequently generously transferred it to the Watermillock Parochial Church Council. It is still occupied by Miss R. Johnston, former headmistress of the school, who retired in 1944.

As nothing further was heard from the Ministry of Education about the proposed. scheme for the Foundation, the trustees decided in 1957 to formulate a scheme of their own, but they were subsequently told that the trustees could only make an application to the Ministry for a scheme and that it must be unconditional, though recommendations might be made.

BENEFITS LIMITED TO RESIDENTS

The application was made in May, 1958, and in September the trustees received a draft scheme from the Ministry. Notice of this was published in the 1oca1 press by order of the Ministry. The trustees considered this scheme and made various suggestions to the Ministry, the most important of which concerning the limitation of benefits under the scheme to Watermillock residents only, was adopted. In November the order establishing the scheme was received, and the Watermillock Educational Foundation came into being.

Under the scheme, there are ten trustees. Eight of these are called co-optative trustees, and the first co-optative trustees are the former trustees of Watermillock School and are entitled to hold office for life. Future co-optative trustees are to be appointed by the existing trustees for a term of five years. There are, in addition, two representative trustees, one appointed by the Cumberland County Council and one by the Matterdale Parish Council.

The present trustees are:

Co-optative trustees — Mr. T. Brunskill, Miss L. Bowser, Mrs. E. Forster, Rev. L. H. Gunner (secretary), Mr. G. MacInnes (chairman and treasurer), Mr. W. Oliver, Miss A. Rolt and Miss J. Swinburn.

Representative trustees—Miss J. Maclnnes (Cumberland County Council), and Mr. R. L. Horn (Matterdale Parish Council).

YEARLY INCOME OF £83

The endowments of the Foundation have been increased since the closure of the school by the investment of £600 accumulated interest, and at the present date bring in a yearly income of £83 16s 8d., with a capital value of some £3,000.

The scheme lays down clearly the purposes for which this money may be applied. The relevant paragraph (quoted here in full) reads:

Application of Income

11. After payment of any expenses of administration, the net yearly income of the Foundation shall be applied by the Trustees in any of the following ways to the benefit of persons of either sex who have not attained the age of 25 years, who are resident in the Ancient Township and Ecclesiastical Parish of Watermillock, and who, in the opinion of the Trustees, are in need of financial assistance:-

(a) Exhibitions tenable at any secondary school, training college for teachers, university, or other institution of further (including professional and technical) education, approved by the Trustees, to be awarded under rules to be made by the Trustees, including rules as to the value and period of tenure of the exhibitions, and the qualifications and method of ascertainment and selection, of candidates;

(b) Financial assistance, outfits. clothing. tools, instruments or books, to enable beneficiaries on leaving school, university or any other educationa1 establishment, to prepare for, or to assist their entry into a profession, trade or calling;

(c) Otherwise promoting the education (including social and physical training) of beneficiaries.

TRUSTEES WIDE SCOPE

It will be seen that the trustees are given plenty of scope in deciding how to apply the income and that the word "educational" is used in a very wide sense. The trustees have not as yet drawn up any rules for the management of the Foundation, though they are empowered to do so, but have decided to invite applications and consider future policy in the light of the existing demand.

It must be clearly understood that the Foundation is not a "charity," but an organisation (under local control) with funds at its disposal for helping young people in Watermillock during their education or training. Even in these days when so much is done by the State in education as in other social services, there are still many expenses which may fall heavily on those most likely to profit from the education or training they require.

We in "the ancient township and ecclesiastical parish of Watermillock" can indeed feel grateful to those public spirited men and women of earlier years, who, though the education for which they worked has become a State responsibility, have made possible the Watermillock Educational Foundation of 1958, with its wide opportunities of service to the local community over the coming years.