THE Cupernham Schools are the grandchildren of the school that used to be held in St Swithun’s Church at Crampmoor.

This school was preceded by a dame school run by a widow, Mrs White that was established in the early 1850s in a thatched cottage. The children were said to sit upon rude forms round the low-ceiled spacious room that opened from the north and had diamond-paned windows looking south.

On Sundays these benches were, ranged in line for an adult congregation who assembled in the afternoon for services conducted by a Scripture reader from Romsey.

This school was replaced when the new chapel, known to us as St Swithun’s Church, was opened on July 19 1858. Like its predecessor it served as a church on Sundays and a school on weekdays.

Schooling became compulsory in 1870 although fees still had to be paid, which must have been difficult for the low-waged with large families.

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Crampmoor church and school building seen from the west in the early 1920s (Image: Romsey Local History Society)

The school originally catered for all the children in the area, but after the Boys National School was opened in Station Road in 1872 the older boys walked to that school, leaving mixed infants and older girls’ at Crampmoor.

In 1902, a survey was made of the state of council and church owned schools by the County Surveyor. Crampmoor School came in for much criticism.

The report states that there was only one classroom, off which a door opened to the teacher’s living room which the Surveyor said ‘is objectionable’. It had space for 53 pupils and there were 43 on the register.

It was pointed out that ‘There is no proper accommodation for school fuel.’ Fuel for church use and for school use were funded separately so this really mattered.

Other shortcomings included that there was ‘A row of pegs on west end wall of school is used for girls’ hats and cloaks, and this is not a satisfactory arrangement.’ A shortage of hat pegs was also noted.

The report observes that ‘The water is pumped from a well in the Teacher’s garden, a few feet from buildings. The Analyst reports that: “This is a good drinking water; the contamination with lead is, however, serious.” 

Although there were separate privies for boys, girls and the teacher, but there was no door to the boys’ privies, as well as other shortcomings. Worse than that the survey noted that the wall outside the privy was dirty because it was used as a urinal.

In 1928, the school was replaced by a new building in School Road where the village hall now stands, and when that closed in 1973, the pupils went to the newly opened Cupernham Schools.