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Charlestown Primary school


 
  Charlestown Primary school
Charlestown Primary school

This carving shows the date of construction of the primary school in the small port of Charlestown, Cornwall. What is interesting is that it had its name 'Charlestown'removed around 1939/1940 during World War 2. Britain was aware of Hitler's plans to invade us and to make things more difficult for the German invaders all indications of village and town names and sign posts were removed from those on the coast.
I attended this school which would accept 4yr olds, in 1942 for just one year and was then transferred to another school closer to home which took 5yr olds.
The school building is now a private residence and even now, seventy years later I can recall a little red truck which was kept in a glass cabinet in our classroom. A reward for good behavior or achievement in spelling or arithmetic was to be permitted to play with the truck during lunch break.
And yes, since you asked, I got to play with it quite often!

Peter W. Marks

 
 
 

Jeff E Jensen
 

Wow, that is really interesting, Peter. I learned something new today.


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January 05, 2013

 

Dale Hardin
  Cool story Peter. Since you have this image, I assume they made new signs after the war.


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January 06, 2013

 

Peter W. Marks
  Sorry Dale, either you or I are having a senior moment. I am not understanding your statement. Yes they made new street signs if needed but in many cases they had not been completely destroyed but just removed into storage where they wouldn't be of much help to the invaders. My confusion is that you say "SINCE you have this image I assume they made new signs......". I am not sure what you are implying or asking.


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January 06, 2013

 

Dale Hardin
  Just semantics Peter. Since you had taken the pix of this sign, I assumed it was still there, but also assumed that they would have made a new one for people that aren't as old as you (there aren't many) so they would know what was correct.


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January 06, 2013

 

Elaine Hessler
  :)

Seriously, this is very interesting.


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January 06, 2013

 

Peter W. Marks
  Yes, it is still there with the name 'Charlestown' chiselled off.
But I am still baffled as to why you would think they would repair/replace this as the only pupose it served back in 1895 was to indicate which school board (like a school district in USA) had financed and built the school. Now, as it is no longer a school, the defaced sign is left that way for minor historic interest but I would guess that only a tiny minority of the present population would know why it was defaced.
For those interested; an act was passed in Parliament in 1893 that made school attendance compulsory for children 5 -11 yrs old. Then gradually over the 20th century it was raised to 16 in 1973 and I think, but am not sure, that this year it will be raised to 18yrs old.


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January 06, 2013

 

Dale Hardin
  And how am I to know that was it's only purpose and that it was only for historical interest? The way I know it is to ask you. Simple.


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January 06, 2013

 

Teresa H. Hunt
  Wow! That is really interesting Peter. :)

And I'm glad you were a good boy and got to play with the red truck. :)


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January 06, 2013

 

Beth Spencer
  That is a really interesting story! Wonder what the inside looks like?
I never could sit still in school and the nuns did not like that so well. I always ended up sitting in the front of the class! Oh and I still don't sit still well.


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January 07, 2013

 

Debbie E. Payne
  Peter, you always come up with fascinating bits of history as well as photos! You are making quite a few of us, I'll bet, want to go to Cornwall.


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January 07, 2013

 
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