Ave Maria School, Eltham, 1960-1980

File — Box: 80, 81, 82 Bermondsey

Identifier: IOLM/BER/21/9/1

Scope and Contents

The file contains folders of photographs of the pupils and staff of the Ave Maria School. There are individual school photographs; many images of the girls and sisters at work; the productions the school put on to entertain; school journeys; and sports events, crafts and needlework. There are some photographs of the Ave Maria Hostel which was in Croydon, and became the convent. These are in a separate envelope. There is also a picture of the school buildings in Eltham, an image of 'Edge Grove' where the Ave Maria girls were educated during the Second World War and Glenure Road School buildings when it became the primary School.

Dates

Creation: 1960-1980

Conditions Governing Access

The file is subject to closure for periods up to 100 years. Under the Data Protection Act (1998) access to Ave Maria Community Home photographs is on written application to the Archivist and approval by the Generalate of the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy GB.

Biographical / Historical

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Ave Maria School was a large and thriving school was run by the Sisters of Mercy for nearly a century mostly in Eltham, on the High Street. Just prior to the outbreak of World War Two, the Bermondsey Community purchased another large property in Eltham, this time in Glenure Road. This house opened in 1946 as a Home Office Approved School for girls. As well as providing an academic education, the Sisters gave training in dressmaking, home economics, parenting and creative crafts. It was, in the true spirit of Catherine McAuley, a preparation for life.

The Approved School closed in 1982, and St Mary's RC Primary School was re-located there with Carmel Ryan RSM as Headmistress. A portion of the land was sold for sheltered housing and the Staff accommodation block in the school grounds became the Sisters' Convent. The old Convent and school site in the High Street had by now been purchased to build a supermarket, though the original house was preserved from demolition and is now used as a Drop-in Centre for the local people. Adapted from Institute of Our Lady of Mercy website: http://www.ourladyofmercy.org.uk/whereweare/ On 06 July 2015 by C Heron Also see the Biographical/Historical note in IOLM/BER/9/3