The School Garden

The children at Holme St Cuthbert School, Mawbray  have a tradition of gardening which goes back over 100 years.

The instigator was Mr Andrew Wilson, Headmaster from 1911 to 1931. Within three months of taking up his new post, he had gained approval from the school managers and a grant from the Longcake Charity ‘To establish and maintain a school garden.’

Mr Wilson was obviously very keen.  The entry in the school logbook for 4^th December 1911 lists the gardening tools that arrived that day and noted that they started gardening that afternoon.

In spring 1912, Mr Wilson and the older boys set about creating a fruit plot in the glebe field below the church.  On 2^nd April, they planted 25 apple trees, 5 pear trees, 6 plum trees, gooseberry bushes, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and raspberry canes.

At first only the boys were allowed to garden and the girls had to do sewing with Miss Allen.  By June 1912, the girls were allowed in the garden. The girls tended the flower gardens, while the boys grew vegetables and fruit.  They both learnt the skill of grafting roses and the boys learnt how to graft fruit trees.

The boys were allowed to sell the vegetables they grew. In October 1925 the older boys received 37/6d. (£1.87) for their efforts.

Some of the original tools bought in 1911 are still at school today.

Adapted from ‘Plain People’
Holme St Cuthbert Histor Group, 2004.