Downley School, Wycombe, Bucks

[curious-alice]

Hello everyone,

My husbands family are very much rooted in Wycombe/Stokenchurch and when his grandmother moved from her house (in Downley, where her mother and g.mother were also born) we unearthed a great hoard of treasure - old photos, diaries, certificates etc. Well, we have managed to name and roughly date the majority of photos but there are still several which are mysteries! One in particular, is a very old photograph of Downley School. There is a sign in the picture which simply reads 'Downley School No. 4' and no date. We don't recognise anyone in the photo and wonder how to date it? or who would be best to ask about the date? Does anyone on here have any knowledge of the old Downley School and who may be able to help us please? Also does anyone know whether there are any archives from the school kept anywhere (the original school was knocked down several years ago). I have asked at the Bucks info centre but with no luck.

Thanks for your time,
Alice.

[juliejtp]

No help at all but heres a picture of Old downley School.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/18434083.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.panoramio.com/photo/18434083&usg=__E1m-n70pdGPliOHtNxKT1L8xf-g=&h=1944&w=2592&sz=1563&hl=en&start=12&zoom=0&itbs=1&tbnid=GQMmiwZxmP-gFM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddownley%2Bschool%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2% 26tbs%3Disch:1

[juliejtp]

Hope this is of help.


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/search_results.aspx?Page=1&QueryText=downley+school&SelectedDatabases=A2A%7cARCHON%7cBOOKSHOP%7cCABPAP ERS%7cCATALOGUE%7cDOCUMENTSONLINE%7cEROL%7cMOVINGH ERE%7cWEBSITE%7cNRA%7cRESEARCHGUIDES%7cNRALISTS%7c E179%7cTRAFALGAR

[dochines]

According to wikipaedia the old school in Downley was built in the 1870s and is still in use (2009)

Reading between the lines I suspect it is used as a community centre in the village

I know of many village schools were built at this time often with a similar style.

The Buckinghamshire FH society web site has an article about Downley and mentions the school. I might be worth asking them if they can help identify anyone in the picture. I would date it about 1920 but am not an expert at dating pictures

I might be worth sending a copy of the picture to the head of the present school to see if they can help. it would give them a good subject for a lesson. as so many families stay in villages like this for many generations there are probably grandparents of the present children in the picture.

If you do send a copy to the school do let us know what happens

dochines

[dochines]

324


another picture of Old D324ownley School

[curious-alice]

Thank you so much, you have given me some great leads - I have now discovered that the school was not knocked down as I had been told, and is currently used as a community centre, so hopefully there may be someone there who can help :)

Thanks for the links to the national archives bit too - I will go through them and see what I can find.

If I find out anymore Ill update this post, but in the meantime if anyone else has any ideas or knows anyone in the picture please do get in touch.

Thank you for your time,
Alice.

[p.risboy]

Hi Alice,

I'm a member of BucksFHS, so is there anything I can help you with.

They do hold some school pupil records, so I could possibly look up someone for you.

Steve.:)

[leefer]

Hello everyone,

My husbands family are very much rooted in Wycombe/Stokenchurch and when his grandmother moved from her house (in Downley, where her mother and g.mother were also born) we unearthed a great hoard of treasure - old photos, diaries, certificates etc. Well, we have managed to name and roughly date the majority of photos but there are still several which are mysteries! One in particular, is a very old photograph of Downley School. There is a sign in the picture which simply reads 'Downley School No. 4' and no date. We don't recognise anyone in the photo and wonder how to date it? or who would be best to ask about the date? Does anyone on here have any knowledge of the old Downley School and who may be able to help us please? Also does anyone know whether there are any archives from the school kept anywhere (the original school was knocked down several years ago). I have asked at the Bucks info centre but with no luck.

Thanks for your time,
Alice.

Great pic...love the cheeky chappie...middle front row.

Good luck Alice.

[sharon stronge]

i attended downley county primary school from 1966 to 1971 i'm having trouble with this site in trying to open the photos / loging on etc but will keep trying!