St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bermondsey, 1860-2002 inclusive
Scope and Contents note
Sub-series consists of files acquired and accumulated by Reverend Mother of Bermondsey Congregation, and subsequently Community Leader of the Bermondsey Community, in relation to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School: Admission Registers; Sacrament Registers; Log Books; Minutes of Governors meetings; Clerk to the Governors' correspondence; annals and historical accounts; activities of pupils and former pupils; Creative class work done by pupils and former pupils.
Dates
- Creation: 1860-2002 inclusive
Conditions Governing Access note
As a private archive, access to the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Archive requires application to the Archivist and approval by the Institute's Leadership Team. Where items are closed for access, this is indicated at the appropriate level.
Biographical/Historical note
M. Clare Moore RSM and the first Sisters worked with the volunteers in the school in East Lane until a new school in the Bermondsey Convent grounds was ready in 1840. The demand for places grew over the years until infant girls and boys and separate junior boys and girls were educated on the Convent grounds. The Sisters did not teach boys over the age of 7 at this time so this was undertaken by lay teachers. In September 1859 a private school was also opened on convent grounds which continued into the 1900s.
By 1912 the number of pupils was double the standard accepted by the London County Council for the size of the premises and a new site had to be found immediately if the school was to keep going. A site was found behind some cottages in George Row and Hickman’s Folly. The new school was completed in spring 1913 at the expense of the Sisters of Mercy, Bermondsey. Bishop Amigo blessed the new building and the Mixed Infants and Junior Boys took possession on 14th April 1913. The school was named St Joseph's because the Sisters had prayed to St Joseph to provide the school.
In 1939 the school was evacuated to Lewes with senior boys from St Michael’s and Senior girls from St Mary’s. These two schools were destroyed by enemy action and in 1942 St Joseph's RC Primary School was opened as an Emergency School. After the war it was left to accommodate all Catholic children and was known as an All Age Mixed RC School.
On 08 June 1949, re-organisation took place. The senior boys went to St Michael’s and the senior girls to All Saints. The Primary children from All Saints joined what has since been called St Joseph's RC Primary School. The last teaching Sister retired from the school in 1991. From that time, the school has been under the Trusteeship of the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy, and the Bermondsey Community Leader is a member of the Board of Governors.
See school website at http://www.stjosephs-georgerow.southwark.sch.uk [accessed 01 November 2010 by K. Johnston].
Full Extent
10 box
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Bermondsey Convent of Mercy Repository