Sir Francis Nethersole initially had relatively little connection with Warwickshire. However, by 1620 he had married Lucy, the eldest daughter of Sir Henry Goodyer of Polesworth. (As an aside, Goodyer was an early friend and patron of the poet, Michael Drayton, who wrote of him, ‘the worthy knight and my noble friend’).
Nethersole had held a seat in Parliament at Corfe Castle in Dorset in 1624, 1625 and 1628. His political career ended, however, when he was arrested in 1633 for offending King Charles with a remark. He spent a great deal of his later years living in Polesworth and he left his mark on the town.
‘Children of the poorer sort’
In the mid 17th century, Nethersole founded a free school at Polesworth for ‘the children of the poorer sort.’ The Warwickshire County Record Office holds an 18th century copy of Sir Francis Nethersole’s orders for the conduct of the school.1
In these orders it states that there were to be 12 boys and 12 girls from Polesworth Trent and 18 boys and 18 girls from other nearby places including Warton and Dordon.
From March to September, students would be at school from 7am-11am, then from 1pm-5pm. From September until March, opening hours were shortened to 8am-11am and 1pm-4pm. They were also obliged to come to school every Sunday and go to church with their schoolmaster.
‘Reasonable diligence’
The orders state that if a student were absent for ‘three days together without giving sufficient reason’ or ‘shall not apply themselves with reasonable diligence’ they ‘shall lose the freedom of the said Schools from thenceforth.’
The boys were ‘taught to read English, write and cast accounts if they desire it’, and the girls were taught ‘to learn the English tongue and work with the Needle if they desire it.’ Both boys and girls were ‘to learn the main principles of the Christian religion.’
The school was rebuilt in 1818 in red brick and is known as The Nethersole Centre. It has recently been converted into four duplex apartments.
1 Reference DR(B) 16/240/1.
Comments
I was a pupil at Nethersole school around 1955 and one of my memories is the school garden in Station Road beside gardening I remember two patches of four leaf clover which we all thought was magical. we used to pick the produce and sell at the autumn fair.
That was the first time I had a male teacher, Mr. Lee and Mr. Francis.
I too was a student at the school, around 1957. The teachers I remember are the wonderful Mr Lee, and Mr Knight the Headmaster. It’s too bad it has been converted into apartments, a lovely old building.
I was a pupil here From 1969 to 1971, previously at the infant school on Hign Street. The headteacher was still Mr Knight and my teachers were Mrs Reece – classroom to the right and Miss Jones -classroom to the left.
I can still remember dinner ladies, Mrs Eels, Mrs Bradford and Mrs Kokorus – we had to walk to the infant school for lunch as no facilities in this building.
I loved my time at the school, very fond memories, it was a beautiful building.
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