Report of the opening of the New Maugerhay Schoolroom on April 18th 1895, from the Norton Parish Magazine for May 1895.
The formal opening of the new Maugerhay Schoolroom took place on Thursday April 18th. The occasion was distinguished by an 'At home' given by Mr. and Mrs. Bagshawe, in the new Schoolroom, among the invited guests being the subscribers to the Building Fund and many old parishioners. The proceedings were commenced with a hymn and Dedicatory prayer. Mrs. Bagshawe, in a graceful speech, then performed the opening ceremony. She alluded to the two previous schoolrooms which had been built and endowed by ancestors of the Bagshawe family, and which for more than 200 years had served the educational wants of the parish. She expressed the great pleasure which it afforded her in declaring the new Schoolroom open. The Vicar, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs. Bagshawe, mentioned the two- fold object of the building. It was to take the place of the old Endowed Day School, and also to serve as a Parochial Room for Sunday School and other purposes in connection with Norton Church. As treasurer of the Building Fund he was thankful to be able to say that the Schoolroom was opened free from debt. Mr Bagshawe, in a feeling address, alluded to the bond of attachment to the Norton School which he and his family had so long enjoyed. He was much gratified to see so many subscribers present on the occasion. They would be able to see for themselves what a handsome and useful building their donations had helped to raise. There were some, he regretted, who were not able to be present. Among these he would especially mention Mrs. Henry Wilson, of Westbrook, and Miss Holy, of Leamington, both of whom had been large contributors. On behalf of the Vicar and himself he thanked the many kind friends who had so generously supported them. In conclusion, Mr. Bagshawe expressed the hope that there would never be wanting members of his family who would take an interest in the welfare of the Maugherhay School as he and those before him had endeavoured to do.
Short addresses were also given by the following gentlemen:- Rev. W. Mercer, Mr. Goodliffe, Mr. Cockayne, Mr. Ebenezer Hall (Thorpe House), and Mr. Mitchell-Withers (the architect). A Hymn and the Benediction concluded the ceremony. Tea and refreshments were provided by Mr. and Mrs. Bagshawe for their guests, and the school children, who had been present during the inaugural proceedings sat down to a substantial meal. In order to make the occasion still more attractive to the children a conjuror was engaged to provide for them an evening's entertainment. Each child, moreover, was presented with a Prayer Book as a memento of the day's event. We give below a balance-sheet of the accounts:-
| Donations | £1267 6s 4d | Messrs. Harrison & Son (Masons) | £707 9s 0d |
| Bazaar | £81 7s 8d | Mr. Woodhead (Joiner) | £379 8s 10d |
| Bank Interest | £80 16s 0d | Messrs. Chadwick & Sons (Painters) | £91 9s 6d |
| Balance (paid) | £0 7s 3d | Messrs. Hodkin & Jones (Plasterers) | £52 4s 1d |
| Mr. Thickett (Glazier) | £38 2s 6d | ||
| Mr. Brady (for Screen) | £21 13s 0d | ||
| *Mr. Fielding (for Well, Pumps and Sanitary Work) | £30 12s 9d | ||
| Architect's Fees (for supervising work and taking quantities) | £90 7s7d | ||
| Clerk of the Works | £15 0s 0d | ||
| Furniture (not included above) | £3 10s 0d | ||
| £1429 17s 3d | £1429 17s 3d |
* The laying out of the Playground with the materials required for that work, has been undertaken by Mr. Fielding, free of cost, as his contribution to the School.
In celebrating the Centenary of the stone building on Matthews Lane with which the children of Norton are familiar, we must not lose sight of the fact that the Free School at Norton was founded on 20th January 1654, just over 341 years ago and was maintained in existence as an independent school by voluntary benefaction for over 250 years.