The Old Methodist School as it once was (picture from SWOP website) | As the building looks today |
The ground floor of this flint faced building was the original old Methodist School. It later became the
Co-Op and, later still, served as a number of different shops.
There has been some form of basic education in the village for many years. In 1832 John Wright, owner of the land of what is now the Swains Market area built a room where Wesleyans could meet. This flint faced building at the east end of the parade of shops is still there. On weekdays the room doubled as a school room charging tuppence a week. Reading classes were later given in the, then new, Wesleyan Chapel opposite.
It is also believed that there were Bible classes in the old Primitive Methodist Chapel established in 1843.
in Chopstick Alley, and private lessons in a couple of local houses, plus this early
Methodist school in the village centre. (Reading classes were later given in the Wesleyan Chapel itself after it was built).
This school later moved to the Victorian school building where the Community
Centre now stands. Finally, Carrington Junior School was built on Lady Carrington's
recreation ground in the 1960s where it still stands today.
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