Taken from a talk by Joyce Laws to Heddon Local History Society on Monday 13th July 2015.
First school in Heddon was originally held in the church porch where boys would have been taught by priests or monks. The Parish Register records a Jo. Salvin, son of Walter Salvin, schoolmaster, baptised by Mr Dockery on 2nd December 1656. 17th and 18th century inspections claimed that 24 children were able to sign their names and learn enough to keep parish accounts accurately.
In 1823, Mrs Margaret Bewicke of Close House opened the school at Houghton. The building is still lived in and called The Old School House. Grandad Laws told stories of boys nettling the girls bottoms on the old ash toilets!
Heddon Old School opened in 1852. It was built along with the headmaster's house at a cost of £732 4s 7d. This was raised from the landed gentry including the Bewickes, a grant of £200, and £3 from the vicar which was his fee for the marriage of Miss Stehenson of Throckley House. The Old School stands on land for which £2 was paid.
Reading, writing, geography, history and needlework for the girls were taught, but arithmetic is not mentioned. Bible reading, catechisms and related works of the Church of England were important topics but all religious denominations could attend.
The School was opened in 1852 with Mr Scott as headmaster. He received £55 a year salary. It must have been difficult keeping staff because 6 masters were there in the first five years.
The Old School building had an infant room with a big stove heater, junior room with a fireplace, and a senior room with a firepalce used to boil water for the teachers' tea. In the small kitchen, Mrs Barron provided school dinners. The desks and chairs were fixed and couldn't be turned round in the junior classroom to avoid it overlooking the graveyard.
As the village grew, and there was no accommodation for the extra children, the Knott Hall was used to hold classes. The new school was built in 1962.
Building operations for the new school were commenced in November 1962. The site is the north-east corner of what was formerly known as the Crag Field. The severity of that winter cancelled all operations for many weeks. The first snowfall occurred on 15th November 1962, lying for 10 days; another fall in the first week of December lasting 7 days. A heavy snowfall commenced on the night of Boxing Day with recurring falls and blizzards up to 5th March 1963 after which a slow thaw set in and the countryside again cleared of snow. Messrs Brims & Co. were the builders and the new school was completed and opened forr use on 9th September 1963.
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