East Lulworth had two schools, a National School established in 1840 and a Catholic School established in 1855. The Catholic School closed in 1968 and the National School some years before.
National School
The National School was opened in 1840 and, according to Kelly’s Directory of 1889, had an average attendance of 50. The school building still remains intact and is now a private dwelling with the name ‘Old School House’. For a while it was named ‘Arishling‘.
Former National School Masters & Mistresses* include:
- 1841: James MORRIS1
- 1855: Miss Harriet PITCHER2
- 1861: Mrs. Hannah KITCATT3
- 1859-1867: Miss Emma RICKETTS
- 1875-1907: Mrs. Ann TRENT
- 1911: Miss Emma MAJOR
- 1915-1919: Mrs. Ada Louise GREENHALGH
- 1922-1923: Mrs. Emma SWAYNE nee CURTIS
- 1927: Mrs. DODD
*The masters and mistresses may have served for longer than shown – the dates have been pieced together from sporadic directory entries and 10 yearly census returns
East Lulworth shoemaker Henry Rolls recorded these events in his journal:
- Henry Lander succeded Recherd Runyard to the Protestant Schoole of E. Lulworth on the 14th of August 1825. Rd. Runyard keeped it for a year before he went to the Chaple.
- The Protestant Schoole by Cannery begun bilding on the 10 of Sep. 1839 Lulworth.
- Mr. Fisher, schoole master, came to Lulworth on the end of March 1847 and his wife and family a bout 5 weeks after.
- The dwelling a joining the Protestant Schoole in the Parson’s Meadow built this summer of 1848.
- Protestant schoole children had a Treat and a great number of children from Woole in 3 wagons come up to joine them on the 6th of Sep. 1859.
- Protestant schoole children had a treat given them on the 5th of August 1863.
- Protestant schoole children had a treat down at Newbarn on the 27th of September 1864.
- Fooks came to the Protestant Schoole house on the 14th October 1870.
Special thanks to Tanya McKenzie for transcribing these.
St Mary’s Catholic School
The location for the old school bell can be clearly seen
A Catholic School was established around 1855. A new building was constructed in 1877 close to the Weld Arms on the opposite side of the lane to the National School. The school closed in 1968 when a new catholic school opened at Wool. At the time 35 children were on the register. The school building fell into disrepair for the best part of 40 years. The building was subsequently renovated and today houses the Past & Presents Gift Shop and Cafe.
Former Catholic School Masters & Mistresses* include:
- 1859-1861: Henry FISHER
- 1859-1867: Miss Helena LEDWITH
- 1865-1871: Thomas Joseph DONNELLY
- 1871: Miss Myra BEDSON4
- 1885: Miss Mary Anna JOHNSTONE
- 1890-1923: Miss Ellen FANNING
- 1927: Sister Mary BRENDAN
- 1939: Miss Annie YARNITZKY
*The masters and mistresses may have served for longer than shown – the dates have been pieced together from sporadic directory entries and 10 yearly census returns
East Lulworth shoemaker Henry Rolls recorded these events in his journal:
- Catholic school children had a Treat at Arish Mill on the 23th of July 1863, Father Strikland with them.
- March the third, 1872. Donnley, schoole master, left Lulworth.
- The nuns left Lulworth the 4th of February 1884. They had been teachers of the school at Lulworth for 11 years.
- Nuns took on the school at East Lulworth, September 8 1925.
- Nuns left Lulworth School 4th April 1931.
- Miss Ellen Fanning died on Oct. 1952, aged 91. Buried in the cemetery, East Lulworth. She was Head Teacher at Lulworth School. 37 years.
Special thanks to Tanya McKenzie for transcribing these.
Memories of East Lulworth Catholic School:
As a child I attended East Lulworth RC school. With my sister Mary and a girl named Nancy Hargreaves, who lived at Lulworth Camp we were the only Protestants in the school, although Miss Belfield who was one of the teachers was also a Protestant.
We went to the school because my mother had heard that Miss Yarnitsky was the best teacher in Dorset. She was a most talented teacher. Among other things, she played the piano like a professional, taught us how to recover a chair, make baskets and taught us dramatics (which came in handy at the school Christmas concerts). She taught the whole school how to swim and also taught us how to garden.
Every Wednesday she marched the whole school through the village to the allotments. We all had a plot of land. The oldest student taught the youngest.
We planted potatoes, parsnips, brussel sprouts, peas and spring onions together with lettuce and radishes. The way the gardens were arranged we had something to take home every week. One Christmas I remember picking frozen brussel sprouts and digging up parsnips to take home.
Miss Yarnitsky was a most remarkable lady and it was my privilege to have had her as a teacher along with Miss Sturmey and Miss Belfield.
Albert Spavins, 2009
Punishment was carried out by the headmistress, Miss Yarnitsky. Female she might have been but she had a very strong downward stroke with the cane.
When a caning was due, one of us boys had to go out into the hedge to cut a hazel stick with our penknife which we always had with us, of course.
Baden Singleton, 2005
Page last updated: 26 October 2022