| These boots are made for walking... |
| In Victorian
times sturdy
boots were essential pieces of kit for country children. Many
had to walk for miles to school over fields and rough hill tracks, in all
weathers. Old photographs of groups of children at school (like the one on the right) show that even the tiniest among them have studded boots to protect their feet from the stony or muddy ground. These typical Log Book entries from Mellington School show that very often, and especially in the winter, foot problems meant no school. For there were no comfortable 'school runs' for these children ! ... |
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16th
December
1884 |
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"George Williams The Barns is away from school with sore feet". |
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11th
December
1885 |
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"Alice Davies is away from school, her mother says she has no boots to come in". |
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10th
December
1889 |
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"Mrs Trow has sent word that Edward cannot get his boots on to come to school as he has chilblains so badly". |
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13th
January
1890 |
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"Fanny Lloyd has sore feet and cannot get her boots on, so has to stay at home". |
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Money was very short in many families, and some parents simply could not afford the cost of boots as well as the school fees (called the 'school pence') for their children. Back to Montgomery schools menu
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RDR
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