Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Mr Woolgrove told me that Mr Looker, of Bloxham, a Civil Engineer to the Banbury and Cheltenham direct Railway, had more than once asked to get my permission for him, Mr Looker, to bore for coal on the Race ground at Sibford Heath.. He said he would be seeing him again this week. I asked him to request Mr L. to write me such a letter as I could lay before the Trustees. Mr Looker thinks there is coal there in sufficient quantity to pay for the working.

Received a letter from Education Department asking what steps we proposed to take with reference to the Education Act 1891 making grant of 10/- per child over 3 and under 15 in average attendance. Our average attendance last year was 77. We should therefore get about £38. 10. 0 in lieu of our School pence which amounted to only about £17. We should therefore gain about £21.

Posted circular letter to Trustees asking for votes to make the School “Free” for purposes of Elementary Education Act 1891. Took choir children to Edge Hill for tea. William Woolgrove lent wagon and team. George Hone, his wagoner, drove.

Visited School, taught and took Penny Bank money. Mr Robinson said the Education Act 1891 would necessitate an alteration in the arrangement between himself and the Trustees. I said I could not say what the Trustees would do; but that he would not be a loser by the abolition of school fees. I added, in order that he might not think that the Trustees would have a lot of money to spare, that we had been compelled to take for school purposes out of the Town Estate, rather more than we were strictly entitled to.

I sent notice to the Education Department that the Managers of the Sibford Church of England Endowed School would accept the grant of 10/- per annum per child, in lieu of school fees from September 1st next. I have received replies in the affirmative to accept the “fee grant” from September 1st next from the following Trustees

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A baby was born in the Flower Show field yesterday in a “caravan” belonging to the “cocoa-nut shy” proprietor.

Received from Simpkin, Marshall & Co. cheque for £23. 1. 5. for sale of Analytical Classical and Latin English and Greek English Series to June 30th. 6 months.

Joseph Pettipher called and said he was getting up a subscription here for the widow Golder and her children to add to the £24 odd which the Banbury carriers had collected and given her. He told me that Brown, the Quaker confectioner of Parsons Street, a curious man, told him he had communicated with the “head man” in Sibford about the proposed collection but had not received a reply.

“Whom do you call the “Head Man” in Sibford?” asked Pettipher.

“Richard Lamb” answered the Quaker.

“Certainly he is not,” said Pettipher. “The Head Man is surely the Vicar by right of his office.”