The Old School

Newmarket has had 2 boys' primary schools, the latter which was built in 1970.  Also there is one girls school, which was built in 1925.  Both schools are still up and running. When my father started school in 1967, it was common practice for some of the boys to attend the girls school in low and high-infants. When my father finished low and high-infants he then went to the old boys school across the road. His teacher in 1^st class was Miss Lochlean.  Their floor was wooden and they had an  open fireplace for heating. The walls were timber partitions, up to around four feet, so, when they stood up they could see into the other classes. They sat two to a seat, with small little bottles of ink in the middle. They had blotting paper but they had only one small square of it each. It was to wipe up the excess ink and it was very messy. They were no indoor toilets.  These were in the shed near the playground. They had no roof, and very bad walls, which were made out of water shoots. The ground in the playground was made out of rough stones.  They would play hunts or else kick the ball.

The 'Old School' across the road
taken by Nicky, John,Bart & Kevin