ABOUT a couple of miles outside Downpatrick, set back off the main Belfast Road, stands a fine granite 19th century building. It is now a handsome residence, but for most of its history it was Inch Primary School.
The school officially opened in 1838 and closed almost 134 years later in 1982 owing to a decline in pupil numbers. In that time, generations of children, many from the same family, were given a solid, formative education and would go on to have outstanding careers.
The last principal, was Mr Tommy Donaldson and his assistant was Mrs Roberta McAuley, who wrote a history of the school entitled ‘Inch School Memoir’ a year after it closed.
A copy of the book has been kindly loaned to the Recorder by Mrs Elizabeth McCabe (née McClurg), who was a former pupil along her brother, Alex, and sisters, Alma and Dorothy.
They lived nearby on Turmennan Road and would run to school so that they would not be late. Two of her sons and other relatives were also past pupils.
The building of Inch School commenced in 1836 although its official opening was not until December 11, 1838. It was built by Mr John Waring Maxwell, of Finnebrogue for £800 and he endowed it with £40 a year, an acre of ground and a supply of coal. In 1840 it was brought under the control of the Church Education Society to which it remained attached until 1883 when it became a National School.
Accommodation comprised two spacious classrooms, where the boys and girls were initially taught separately, and a teacher’s residence.
In most schools the pupils had to bring coal, turf or money for fuel, but this school was in the fortunate position of being endowed with a coal supply by the Maxwell family. The classroom floors were originally paved with granite, but were later covered with wood. The first teacher whose influence is well documented in the school records is Mr William Kerr Sides, who was appointed in 1876 when he was just 22 years of age. His wife, Blanche Alice Sides, joined him in 1879 as a young bride of 18. She became a junior assistant mistress and taught the infant classes. She also instructed the older girls in needlework. The average number of children attending when Mr. and Mrs. Sides were in residence was between 30 and 40. Some children did not attend very regularly until after 1892 when school attendance became compulsory. In 1908 Mr Sides died. He was succeeded by Mr Alfred Magowan, who remained for only a short time and was followed by Mr. John Rea. Mrs Sides continued as assistant until Mr Rea married in 1912 when she made way for his wife Julia, who took over the infant classes.
The closure of Rann School, about two miles from Inch, in 1917 brought an increase in the number of children and an additional teacher, Miss Sarah Cochrane, who transferred with her pupils and most of her pupils transferred to Inch. Mr Rea and Miss Cochrane shared the classroom on the south side and Mrs Rea continued in the ‘infant room’. Miss Cochrane was a very useful addition to the staff because numbers were increasing. There were nearly 70 children on the school roll when she retired in 1925.
The annual excursion to Newcastle, a popular event which took place in the summer holidays, was introduced in the 1920s. A fete was held in early summer to raise funds for the trip. The school party travelled by train bringing food in a large hamper. These refreshments (lemonade and Paris buns) were taken at the Railway Pavilion in Newcastle. Many people living in the district have happy memories of the summer excursions.
In 1938 only three new pupils, one boy and two girls, were enrolled at Inch. The following year saw the beginning of a change which was to become dramatic. As the Second World War advanced people flocked out of the City of Belfast, to avoid the anticipated German bomb attacks, and lived in farm buildings and unoccupied houses. Children, in particular, were evacuated to the country. In 1939 and 1940 pupils began to trickle in from the City and after the bombing in April 1941 that trickle became a flood.
In 1947 Mr Rea, the longest serving principal (38 years) at Inch, died after a brief illness. Shortly after her husband’s death Mrs Rea retired and went to live with her daughter in Yorkshire.
Mr Rea was succeeded by Mr J Davidson, a Scot, and Mrs Rea was replaced by Miss E Swain. In January 1951 Mr Davidson left to take up a teaching position in Coventry, and was replaced by Mr Thomas Donaldson, a local teacher, who had been assistant in Tyrella for less than two years.
After teaching at Inch for 16 years Miss Swain retired in 1963 and went to live in Bangor. Mr Donaldson had three more assistants during the remaining 19 years in which the school was in operation. They were Mrs M Riddell, Mrs M Gibson and Mrs McAuley.
By 1980 it became clear that due to the continuing decline in rural population, and the fall in school enrolment, closure would be inevitable.
Early in 1982 the Management Committee and parents reluctantly agreed to the proposal to close the school provided suitable transfer arrangements could be made for the remaining pupils. Inch School subsequently closed on June 30, 1982.
At a party to mark the closure of the school the late Miss May Jennings, the oldest former pupil, presented Mr Donaldson with a wall clock from pupils past and present. Gifts were also presented to Mrs McAuley, Mrs D Lennon, the caretaker, Mrs E. Neill, the school nurse, and Miss Jennings.
The following September, 13 children who had attended Inch School transferred to Ballytrim, Crossgar and Downpatrick to continue their primary education. Two others went to Quoile High School, another went to Killyleagh High School, and another to Down High School.
Mr Donaldson took early retirement and Mrs McAuley went to teach in Victoria Primary School in Newtownards. Inch School was no more.