Boys' School on Aylesbury Rd, Bromley, Kent

[Yeates]

Does anyone have family recollections of, or know the history of, a boys’ grammar school on Aylesbury Road in Bromley, Kent?

My father had strong memories of it as his first school. He would have started there in 1918, attending until, maybe, 1921/1922. We, as children, were oft reminded by him of the motto on the school cap he wore at this school: Manners Make Men.
Regards,
Yeates

[Thomasin]

That must be St Mark's. It's still there, but it's a primary school (up to the age of 11). You can find it on Google, but if you need any further information just ask, and I can go to Bromley Library Local Studies for you.

[Thomasin]

It's strange that your father stressed that the school was in Aylesbury Road, because at the time when he would have attended the school, it was in an older building in nearby Mason's Hill, Bromley. The original school was built in 1910, and functioned as a school until the 1980s.

The present school, as you can see by means of Streetview, is a much younger affair. I wonder if there could have been another school altogether on the site in Aylesbury Road.

[malcolm99]

In the 1916 Kelly's Directory for Bromley there is a council run school called "Aylesbury Road School"

BROMLEY EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

The following Schools are under the authority of the Committee :

Valley (Beckenham Lane) (boys, girls & infants).
Raglan Road (boys, girls, juniors & infants).
Aylesbury Road (boys).
Wharton Road (OO)'s,girls &; infants).


See page 77 here: http://archive.library.bromley.gov.u...ley_Kellys.pdf

[malcolm99]

We, as children, were oft reminded by him of the motto on the school cap he wore at this school: Manners Make Men.

That's a variation on Winchester College's motto 'Manners Makyth Man'

[malcolm99]

A search of Bromley Local Studies Library catalogue brings up (mainly) log books here:
http://archive.library.bromley.gov.u...Cmd=Search.tcl

[Yeates]

Dear Thomasin,
Hmm. Your mention of St. Marks prompted me to find a photo my Dad once gave me which he said was taken at the time he attended this school. He never said it had a religious affiliation, however, it is evident on this old photo that it did have. A tower has a cross on top; a flag has a cross on it. Maddeningly, the photo was taken, it appears, in the back of this school. Therefore, it is difficult to look at historical church photos to match it as most such photos are taken from the front.

I read the short history on St. Mark’s web site. As you mention in a subsequent reply, evidently, the school has only been on Aylesbury Road since 1984. There were no historical photos, however, it seems the original church suffered major damage during WWII.

A distinctive feature of the building in my photo has a tower (presumably, a bell tower although I cannot see a bell) which stands upon the roof with four legs. The space between each leg is arched. There is a cross atop this tower.

Thank you,
Yeates

[Thomasin]

A distinctive feature of the building in my photo has a tower (presumably, a bell tower although I cannot see a bell) which stands upon the roof with four legs. The space between each leg is arched. There is a cross atop this tower.

If you Google "Entrance porch to the offices of Bromley Youth Offending Team" you will see the entrance porch of the old school in Mason's Hill. If you then click on the other images you will see the cupola on this building, which resembles your description. What do you think?

Otherwise, the school that Malcolm found sounds a possibility.

[Yeates]

Dear Malcolm,
Thank you.
I have downloaded the 1916 Bromley Directory offering much family information besides the Aylesbury Road references. The Bromley Library catalogue I need to explore and am not quite sure how it will serve me being in the States, as I assume it is primarily an index.

I look at the photo my father had and now can see this group of students arranged for the photo outside of what appears to be a church. However, the information you have found matches what my father had told me. I wonder if the occasion for the photo was an attendance of a service at the church. It appears to be the entire school, as there are multiple ages (rather, heights) of boys as well as four (male) adults.

I assume a ‘council’ school is what we would call a public school in the States----supported by the government and taxpayers?

My father would have relished knowing the origin of the school motto. I will email the references to my brothers this evening.
Best Regards,
Yeates

[malcolm99]

The Bromley Library catalogue I need to explore and am not quite sure how it will serve me being in the States, as I assume it is primarily an index.

Ah, but indexes are just pointers to treasures! If, for example, you found a school log book for when your father was at the school (which you will) then the library might be able to make & send you a photocopy of his entry if you wanted one.

I wonder if the occasion for the photo was an attendance of a service at the church. It appears to be the entire school, as there are multiple ages (rather, heights) of boys as well as four (male) adults.

That seems quite likely.

I assume a council school is what we would call a public school in the States----supported by the government and taxpayers?

That’s exactly right – Bromley Town Council, through their Education Committee, was responsible for running the school.