Heritage

Elizabeth Donnison in her will dated 1777 left a princely sum of £1,500 to establish a local school for girls. The school was built to educate 36 poor girls from the parish in 1798.

The girls were taught reading, writing, arithmetic and domestic skills which would help them secure employment in service and   hopefully a husband!

The headmistress's house was added in 1827 by a substantial bequest from Elizabeth Woodcock.  It ceased to be a school after 1900 and became private accommodation, the caretakers accommodation for Holy Trinity Church.

Finally, unoccupied, it was bought in 2001 for £2,400 as a derelict site  by a Living History North East through voluntary contributions form

a handful of committed individuals.

It took 6 years to secure funding before the extensive restoration work on this listed building finally started in October 2006 and completed in  August 2007. The site was  officially opened in December 2007.