Fairlawn School

House History

Fairlawn Map 1885

Notes

• In 1891 Agnes Caroli from Switzerland was an Assistant Schoolmistress in Bury St. Edmunds, by 1901 she'd moved to Newmarket and was a School Mistress alongside Isabel Diver, both running a girls school in Fairlawn (though the name Fairlawn is not shown on the census).
  
  
• This pair of principals were still shown there in 1904, but on the 1911 census neither they nor any pupils are listed, just caretaker Frederick Eaves from Saxmunham, his wife Emma and son (another Frederick) living there.
  
  

• The Misses Hardwicke
  

• A few years later in 1916 Miss Gertude Hardwicke is shown in Kelly's Directory running Fairlawn Girls School.
  
  
• Gertrude (Gertie) Mary Hardwicke (b. 1876) and Mabel (May) Annie Hardwicke (b. 1874) were two sisters and devout spinsters that came from Bury St.Edmunds. They both lived into their 90s.
  
  
• Previously in 1911 Mabel was already in Newmarket running a girl's school in Alicia House - which was across the other side of the road from Fairlawn just to the left of what is now Heath Garage.
  
  In the same year Gertrude was still living with her father Ezra John Hardwicke in 4 Cornhill, Bury St. Edmunds (now a Chinese restaurant) - he was a surgeon (doctor) M.R.C.P.(Eng).
  
  
• In around 1930 the jockey Henri Jelliss lived next door in Glenwood, his daughter Angela Gladys Jelliss attended the school at Fairlawn - further details about her can be found on the page for Glenwood.
  
  

• Newmarket Journal 4th February 1933 'Operetta At The Turner Hall, By The Girls Of Fairlawn School. An excellent entertainment was given in the Turner Hall, Newmarket, on Thursday evening, January 26th, in aid of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, and consisted mainly of an operetta, "Pearl, the Fishermaiden," composed by Clementine Ward, and acted by the girls of Fairlawn School, Newmarket, under the direction of the Misses Hardwicke. There was a large and most appreciative audience. The first half of the programme was as follows: Piano solo, by M. Hemming; two recitations, by Miss Hutchins; a dance, by Bridget Jarvis; and a dance by Jean Smith and Margaret Lloyd. Each item was remarkably good, and every performer was heartily applauded. "Pearl, the Fishermaiden," is cleverly conceived and written; and it lost nothing in the hands of the Misses Hardwicke's pupils. The story, briefly, is this - Pearl, the Fishermaiden, is saved as baby from a shipwreck by Daddy and Mistress Whelk, and is adopted by them. Lorenzo, the supposed son of a notorious brigand chief, is also cast upon the same shore with his robber band some sixteen years later, and falls a victim to the charms of the young fishermaiden, to whom he reveals his true identity. They plight their troth, but there is a great obstacle to their happiness. Lorenzo, the Elder, had in former years kidnapped the infant son of the reigning king, and rumour had it, slain him, for which King Alfonso had to slay Lorenzo, the younger brigand. Pearl, who has saved the king's little cousin from drowning, goes to the court under a royal warrant, and pleads for her lover's life, but the king is adamant; Lorenzo is taken and is about to be executed, when a message, in invisible ink, given him by his supposed father, Lorenzo, the Elder, proves that the young Lorenzo is in reality the son of King Alfonso, who was abducted, but not killed. Further proof of this is afforded by a half-crescent ruby which Lorenzo wears. Further excitement is provided when Pearl is proved to be a princess by birth, and the betrothed of Lorenzo. The acting throughout was of a remarkably high standard, giving evidence of the most skilful training. E. Hazleton was a dashing brigand chief, and sang with distinctness and spirit, while P. Jeffery, as Pearl, sang with grace and charm; indeed, the excellence of the singing was the outstanding feature of the play, the solos being worthy of special praise. The court dancers, J. Smith, E. Hoffman and M. Lloyd, were excellent, and they well deserved their encore; while J. Gardner (King), J. Colson (Daddy Whelk), J. Catchpole (Mistress Whelk), and N. Walker (Jester), gave praiseworthy performances, J. Catchpole and N. Walker being especially good. Mr C.J.R. Shann was a most efficient accompanist throughout the performance. During the evening, Mrs Gilbert Gray announced that Bridget Jarvis, Doreen Leader and Colmette Chester had been awarded their silver badges, and introduced Miss Poulton, the Eastern representative of Dr. Barnardo's Young Helpers' League. Miss Poulton, who spoke for a short time, emphasised the fact that there was an enormous amount of squalour, poverty and misery in the world today, and that Dr. Barnardo's Homes really were "homes," and not institutions. She thanked those present for the help they had given in the past, and trusted that it would not be withheld in the future. Thanks are due to Mrs Grafton Pryor, Mrs Hogg, Mrs Smith, Mrs H. Sadler, Mrs H.B. Leach, and Mrs Payne, who paid all the expenses of the evening.'

   
  Many thanks to Geoffrey Woollard for this article.
  
  
• As recounted by Geoffrey, in later years Fairlawn became co-educational, admitting both girls and boys - both he and his wife, Sue (nee Day) went to Fairlawn in the mid to late 1940s. Geoffrey left in 1949, he remembers the Misses Hardwicke - Gertie and May - and also other teachers - Miss Howfield, Miss Winter, Mlle Raymond and Miss Bell. At this time Sue's family lived two doors along in Bridlemere.
  
  

• Building Changes
  

• Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds Branch
  Property Sales Catalogues
  HE 500
  Fairlawn, Belmont, High St., Newmarket HE 500/5/29 1888