The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Have you ever heard of Miss Jones's School in Neston?

Bec Peck has sent the following letter to Neston Primary School:

"I have an embroidered map of England Wales from 1907. It says: 'Ann Ewing's Work at Miss Jones's School Neston.'

"Was your school ever called "Miss Jones's School"? If not you, do you know to whom the map is referring?

"I live in Kansas, United States. We acquired the map during World War I when a distant cousin mailed the map to my Great Grandmother as a remembrance for where he was stationed.

"The map isn't in very good condition. However, the embroidery is excellent work. We are trying to decide what to do with the map. To restore it or find a loving home for it.

"Love any information you can provide as the origination of the piece. I attached a photo of the piece."

Can YOU help to shed any light on the origins of this map?  If so, please either leave your comment below, or send us an email and we will forward it to Bec.

Per Andy Williams' comment below, his Nan recalls that Miss Jones's was a finishing school located where Tesco is now.  In the photo (from 1910) he has submitted, that places it behind the trees that you can see beyond the Cross:

22nd Feb 2011: Jerry Harris has forwarded the following information and photograph:

Mrs Pakenham-Walsh's School

From Burton & Neston History Society publication: Neston 1840 - 1940 p160:
A school ............. kept in the old vicarage at the Cross (where Tesco now stands) from 1861 to c.1923. for the last forty years it was run by Mrs Anne Pakenham-Walsh. She taught in the kitchen; her pupils had no desks and used slates. If Mrs Pakenham-Walsh gave a piano lesson in the parlour, the other pupils would go with her and work at the ling table, accompanied by the music lesson. Another teacher gave French lessons in an upstairs room.

Information from Edward Hilditch, Burton & Neston History Society:
"I was told the following about Miss Walsh's school many years ago. Miss Walsh died in 1925 and is buried in Neston churchyard. She employed other staff, Miss Williams, Miss Douglas and Miss Dodd and 46 children attended the school. It was a mixed school. The playground and the toilets were at the back of the school where the Tesco car park is now. There was a brass plate with the name Neston Vicarage School on it. A dentist Mr Underwood had a surgery upstairs. A French teacher came each Thursday afternoon.

Pupils came from Heswall , West Kirby, Puddington and Thornton Hough. Pony and traps came from Thornton Hough and the ponies were left in a yard behind what is now Alistairs the opticians. The yard belonged to Hancocks the butchers.

The fees were 2s 6d a week and that was just for the teaching. Pupils took food with them and the school cooked it. The children did knitting for soldiers at the time of the First World War and there was an emphasis on handicrafts and music."

This info does not identify Miss Jones, but she could still have worked there, however, it still may be another school! But your readers might be interested in seeing the above. - Jerry Harris, http://nestontowncouncil.org.uk/community

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Comments

andy w

At 10:35 on 17th February 2011, andy w commented:

According to the Bagshaws directory of 1850 a Mary Ann Jones ran a primary school in Neston,i will do a bit more digging to see if i can find any more information on where it was,it would be doubtful if this miss Jones was still teaching in 1907 but the school may have retained her name

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Katie Robson

At 11:42 on 17th February 2011, Katie Robson responded:

Sounds like you're onto something there, Andy - keep us posted!

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andy w

At 12:33 on 17th February 2011, andy w commented:

Just had a word with my Nan and she says she is pretty sure it was a ladies finishing school where Tesco's is now(before it was Irwins)

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Katie Robson

At 13:13 on 17th February 2011, Katie Robson responded:

Andy has sent in a photo, which I will now add to the article above. Thank you!

If anyone else has any recollections or photos of this establishment, please do get in touch. You can email me on carriespacey@aboutmyarea.co.uk, as well as leaving comments here.

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Katie Robson

At 15:27 on 22nd February 2011, Katie Robson responded:

New photo and info added today - see above. Thanks Jerry and Edward!

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Mark

At 15:47 on 17th March 2012, Mark commented:

Carrie, I am not sure if this is what you are after, but there is a house on Earle Drive in Parkgate (just next to Neston). It was used as a school house for many years. The house was built in about 1880. I was told that John Peel used to go to school there in the early 1940's. In his autobiography, he refers to it as Miss Jones' School. He is not very flattering about it! Does that help?

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Mark

At 15:51 on 17th March 2012, Mark commented:

Maybe I should also say (if you have not heard of John Peel) that he was a very famous DJ on BBC Radio 1 from the 1960s until he died about 7 or 8 years ago. He used to champion up and coming bands, and his views were regarded by many (myself included) as definitive.

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Mark

At 20:54 on 17th March 2012, Mark commented:

BTW, that last comment was intended for the lady in Kansas. I appreciate that everyone else will know of John Peel!

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Katie Robson

At 09:44 on 23rd September 2014, Katie Robson responded:

A message received this week:

I came across your post whilst researching my family tree.

I believe that this Miss Jones’ school relates to my great great grand Aunt, Mary Anne Jones. She was born in 1830 in Neston, to Robert & Ann Jones. Robert was a flour dealer and grocer and ran a shop in Main Street, Neston.

Mary Ann is shown in the 1851 Census as being a School Mistress, living in Neston (Main Street).

Beyond 1851 we have no further record and can’t find any death or marriage so am a little stuck.

Is it possible that the tapestry mentioned relates to this time? It would be lovely to think so and seems to fit.

Any further information known or access to copies of these photos would be very much appreciated.

I live in Heswall and have been conducting a lot of field research in Neston as my family lived there for most of their life.

Kind regards
Mrs Lesley Burke (nee Jones)

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Susan C

At 22:25 on 4th October 2014, Susan C commented:

I have never been convinced that this was 'our' Neston. why would we have had what appears to have been an American soldier, or any WW1 soldier come to that, stationed in Neston? But Neston Wiltshire is pretty near to Chisledon Army Camp that DID have hundreds of men, including Americans stationed there in WW1. Has anyone found an Ann Ewing in Neston early 1900s even?

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