Photograph of the National School, Bishop's Sutton
Taken about 1870
The Church of England took a lead in encouraging education for the poor in the first half of the nineteenth century and this National School was built in 1859 through public subscription, the driving force behind it being the village curate, the Reverend Cecil Carlon. In this image the schoolmistress and pupils have been joined by a gentleman and his family, the attire of the two daughters with their hats, muffs and coats contrasting with the pinafores of the school girls.
The combination of brick and flint work in the school wall is characteristic of buildings in this part of Hampshire.
The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-87) and is found in an album of his work.
