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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Shropshire => Topic started by: macw on Tuesday 26 January 10 12:57 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone know anything about Park Villa School in Condover. My Great Grandfather went here with his brother in the 1881 census. I cannot find any reference to it on the Internet or in the Shropshire Archives. I don't even know if the building still exists. Any help would be much appreciated. If your ancestor went there we might be able to gather some information together, an ancestors reunion??
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hello
I think that Park Villa was a boarding school at Wheat Hall near Condover.
In 1895 Mr and Mrs Geoffrey Dixon were in charge.
s.g.d.
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S.G.D.
Thank you for the information. It looks quite likely this is the same place as in 1881 the master was Thomas Dixon aged 41 and he had a son Geoffrey Dixon aged 13. He still might be a little young in 1895 to be a Master at 27? It could be a brother to Thomas, or Geoffrey may have moved to another local school? Do you have any references I could refer to or is it from memory?
I also note from the 1881 census that Park Villa School is between Park Green and Park Villa (a place of 6 residences) and after this there is a place called a School House that may be linked? followed by Pie Pit Cottages. Does this make sense to those with local geographical knowledge?
MACW :)
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Thomas Dixon was also there in 1871 which would have made him master at 31.
By 1922 there is no mention of a school.
s.g.d.
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SGD,
Thank you again for this information and the point about Thomas's age. I understand there were many small schools set up in this period and the fact that it may have lasted from before 1871 to possibly 1922 indicates the Dixons knew how to run a school.
If I am passing Condover way this Wheat Hall you refer to is a small village do you think the property in question is the place named Park House about 500m up the road to Radnore Farm from the centre of Wheathall?
MACW ???
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Yes it probably is Park house as that is listed as a private residence in 1922.
Wheat Hall or Wheathall as it is called nowadays is about a mile from Condover.
I live in Shrewsbury so let me know if I can be of any help,
s.g.d.
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I have just stumbled across this post. My great-grandfather and his brother were also at the school at the time of the 1891 census and I would be interested to know if any further information has been uncovered.
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Just to confirm the above post that Villa Park became Park House
Click on map, zoom and check bottom left hand corner -
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101594410 1881/82 map shows Villa park
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101594407 1901 map shows Park House
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Many thanks for the prompt reply. Unfortunately, the second link wouldn't display for some reason - the first one worked fine.
Thanks again
PiersW
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Apologies - had confused my full stops and forward slashes. Really must learn to cut/paste or copy.
Shd be OK now
Also, a very warm welcome to Rootschat.
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Many thanks again. All working now. I am sure your conclusion is correct. The maps enabled me to find Park House on Google Earth - the name of the house is just discernible in Street View.
An American second cousin of mine (her grandfather was my great-uncle - he was the brother who attended Park Villa School with my grandfather, subsequently emigrating to the US) is coming over here in May on a family history search. Shropshire and Montgomeryshire (where our ancestors lived before moving to Hertfordshire) will form part of the pilgrimage and, thanks to this post, we can now add Park House to the itinerary.
Piers
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Just to confirm the above post that Villa Park became Park House
Click on map, zoom and check bottom left hand corner -
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101594410 1881/82 map shows Villa park
http://maps.nls.uk/view/101594407 1901 map shows Park House
The links now work fine; many thanks for the post. I must look at the NLS for other old maps of England? I was prompted to look at my notes. The head Thomas Dixon died in 1892 and his wife and son Geoffrey were running the school in 1901. He left to become a lay preacher and a Hugh De Lacy Hulton-Harrop "Gent" was living there in 1909.
The house still exists (the address is now in Ryton) and is a private residence. I don't know if the current occupier knows of or has an interest in the School?
One of the sons of Thomas Dixon, Geoffrey (who took over the school on his father's death), married the daughter of the head of Ryton Boarding School.
I was wondering if any old school or pupil photographs exist in the Dixon family, former pupils or in the attic?
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Sadly, I do not have any family photos of that part of my ancestors' lives. I expect we will call in at the house in May and, if we find someone in, I will post what (if anything) we find out.
I have attached a screen capture from Google Earth Street View that shows the house as it is now.
PiersW
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Eddowe's Journal 28 July 1880
ADVERT
EDUCATIONAL - PARK VILLA SCHOOL NEAR DORRINGTON
Conducted by Mr Dixon, assisted by Competent Resident and Visiting Masters. Pupils are prepared for the University Local Examinations, Pharmaceutical Preliminary and for Commercial and Business pursuits. Terms moderate.
The school will re-open Monday, August 2nd. Prospectuses and references forwarded on application.
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As regards the matter of the two Dixons, I think the 1891 census (in which my grandfather and his brother feature) might fill one or two gaps. The name of the house is given simply as Park Villa. The profession of Thomas Dixon (head of the household and aged 51) is given as School Master and his place of birth as Stockport, Lancashire. The son, Geoffrey, aged 23 is described as a Medical Student.
PiersW
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Hi Piers
Thank you for pointing out this detail.
It looks like he was hoping to become a doctor but after his father's death in 1892 he had to help his mother run the school and it looks like he never became a Doctor?
Just read your other post I missed earlier. My Great Grandfather and Great GrandUncle were both at the school at the 1881 census (18 pupils between 11 and 14). We don't know if the other brother's were there between census.
He may have become a Reverend though the record isn't 100% clear as he doesn't leave his estate to his wife?