Timeline
Miles Tarn Community Action Group
looking after the interests of The Old School, New Hutton
1778
Rev Miles Tarn of Birks, New Hutton, leaves an endowment of £40 which is used, together with a loan of £15 8s 6d from the Rev Samuel Simpson, the then Vicar of New Hutton, to buy a small field at Sedgwick, the rent from this piece of land to be used to pay the Schoolmaster at New Hutton and to repay the Vicar’s loan.
1829
St Stephen’s Church is built on the site of the Chapel to St John, with no provision for a schoolroom.
1830
Originally the schoolmaster would travel from farm to farm giving lessons. Later a small building adjoining the church was used as New Hutton’s first school, and then a building near the main road, which is now a shed with a post box set into the wall, became the school around 1830.
1870
The beginning of the modern system of education, with England’s first major Education Act in 1870 (Forster’s Act).
School boards to be set up where voluntary places were insufficient, with fees of a few pennies per week being charged. Poorer families were exempt from payment.
1872
The school moves to its present site, being built for a cost of £500 from voluntary subscription. Lady Bentinck of Underley Estate gifted the land on which the school was built.
1895-9
Various improvements are made to the school using money from voluntary subscription.
1928
”Presumed” Trustees:
Mrs S E Clapham, Mr J T Ellis, Mr F Clarke, Mr N Edmondson, Rev F C L MacGregor, Mr G G Robinson, Mr J Stott, Mr J Stubbs
1932
New Hutton village hall is built, costing £1000, with money raised by parishioners and donations.
The WI held a garden fete which raised £120, and Lady Bentinck made a donation of £50.
1943
The playground is resurfaced using money raised from a garden fete and other parish activities.
1944
In the concluding years of the second world war the Education Act 1944 (the Butler Act) sees the introduction of the 11-plus exam, primary and secondary education, raising the school leaving age to 15.
1946
The school closes in August 1946. The 13 pupils attending were to go to Old Hutton Primary School or to secondary school in Kendal once they reached the age of 12.
The Miles Tarn Foundation Trustees continue to care for the school premises as a social amenity for the community.
Trustees:
Mr A J Armistead, Rev J Berry, Mr J H Dawson, Mr N Edmondson (died 13.7.1955), Mr J Stubbs (30.12.1953)
1947
Mr T N Allan appointed Trustee, replacing Mr N Edmondson.
1951
Miles Tarn School Foundation (New Hutton School) Trustees are officially appointed by the Minister of Education under the Charitable Trusts Acts 1853-1925.
Trustees:
The Vicar “for the time being”
Mr Anthony John Armistead (died 17.12.1972), Mr Albert Edward Barber (replacing Mr J Stubbs), Mr John Henry Dawson (resigned 1970, died 15.3.1976)
1973
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr J H Askew (appointed Trustee replacing Mr A J Armistead), Mr A E Barber (died 22.8.1980), Rev D Murray (resigned 1985 – vicarage sold), Mr W E Ellis (appointed Trustee replacing Mr J H Dawson)
1980
Mr D Cottam appointed Trustee replacing Mr A E Barber
1981
Electricity supply installed by the Trustees. Requests to route through church property refused.
1985
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr D Cottam, Mr J H Askew (died 24.2.1986), Mr W E Ellis (resigned 2002), Mr K Sedgwick (appointed replacing Rev D Murray – resigned 2002)
1990-91
Toilet and wash basin installed by the Trustees, followed by septic tank and water holding tank.
1999
The Trustees and Parish Council begin their search for the title deeds, commencing late 1999, as the original deeds cannot be traced.
2002
Fifty six years after the school closes, as a consequence of document preparation for HM Land Registry at Durham, Carlisle Diocese expresses an interest in the Old School.
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr D Cottam, Mr P Bell (appointed Trustee replacing Mr W E Ellis), Mr J F Clarke (appointed Trustee replacing Rev D Fowler), Mr I W Mason (appointed Trustee replacing Mr K Sedgwick)
2004
Original Trustees apply to HM Land Registry seeking adverse possession and formal registration of title.
2005
Trustees advised to become a recognised “company” and become the Miles Tarn Community Action Group to formalise their legal position.
Company Members:
Mr T N Allan, Mr P Bell, Mr J F Clarke (resigned 2008), Mr D Cottam, Mr I W Mason
2006
Carlisle Diocese serves notice by publication in the Westmorland Gazette on 27 January 2006 claiming ownership of the Old School under Sections 554 and 556 of the Education Act 1996. MTCA have 100 per cent support from parishioners following a parish questionnaire.
Complex and costly legal proceedings begin contesting diocesan ownership of the Old School.
2007
Secretary of State for Education rules that Carlisle Diocese has no claim. MTCA again pursue their title claim with HM Land Registry.
2008
Land Registry require proven evidence of continued Trusteeship before legal title is granted.
Boundary walls repaired and rebuilt.
Area surrounding the Old School building cleared and tidied.
Mr M Ellwood appointed Company Member replacing Mr J F Clarke
2009
Formal registration by Land Registry on 3 June 2009 of legal ownership of the freehold land known as The Old School, New Hutton, and the land known as Amoras Close on the east side of Nannypie Lane, Sedgwick.
Local residents are invited to celebrate this event at The Old School.
The Old Schoolyard is cleared and resurfaced by the trustees and helpers with financial assistance from the Windfarm Community Fund.
A fundraising Treasure Hunt is held in the village.
Mrs Jean Robinson appointed a Company Member.
2013
The present Trustees are now:
I W Mason (Director), M Ellwood (Secretary)
N Allen, D Cottam, T Ellis, C Agar
2014
The Trustees, with effect from August 2014, are:
Ian Mason (Director)
Dennis Cottam (Director)
Mathew Ellwood (Director)
Tony Ellis (Director)
Cliff Agar (Director)
Alan Woof (Director)
2016
Mathew Ellwood resigned as Director
looking after the interests of The Old School, New Hutton
1778
Rev Miles Tarn of Birks, New Hutton, leaves an endowment of £40 which is used, together with a loan of £15 8s 6d from the Rev Samuel Simpson, the then Vicar of New Hutton, to buy a small field at Sedgwick, the rent from this piece of land to be used to pay the Schoolmaster at New Hutton and to repay the Vicar’s loan.
1829
St Stephen’s Church is built on the site of the Chapel to St John, with no provision for a schoolroom.
1830
Originally the schoolmaster would travel from farm to farm giving lessons. Later a small building adjoining the church was used as New Hutton’s first school, and then a building near the main road, which is now a shed with a post box set into the wall, became the school around 1830.
1870
The beginning of the modern system of education, with England’s first major Education Act in 1870 (Forster’s Act).
School boards to be set up where voluntary places were insufficient, with fees of a few pennies per week being charged. Poorer families were exempt from payment.
1872
The school moves to its present site, being built for a cost of £500 from voluntary subscription. Lady Bentinck of Underley Estate gifted the land on which the school was built.
1895-9
Various improvements are made to the school using money from voluntary subscription.
1928
”Presumed” Trustees:
Mrs S E Clapham, Mr J T Ellis, Mr F Clarke, Mr N Edmondson, Rev F C L MacGregor, Mr G G Robinson, Mr J Stott, Mr J Stubbs
1932
New Hutton village hall is built, costing £1000, with money raised by parishioners and donations.
The WI held a garden fete which raised £120, and Lady Bentinck made a donation of £50.
1943
The playground is resurfaced using money raised from a garden fete and other parish activities.
1944
In the concluding years of the second world war the Education Act 1944 (the Butler Act) sees the introduction of the 11-plus exam, primary and secondary education, raising the school leaving age to 15.
1946
The school closes in August 1946. The 13 pupils attending were to go to Old Hutton Primary School or to secondary school in Kendal once they reached the age of 12.
The Miles Tarn Foundation Trustees continue to care for the school premises as a social amenity for the community.
Trustees:
Mr A J Armistead, Rev J Berry, Mr J H Dawson, Mr N Edmondson (died 13.7.1955), Mr J Stubbs (30.12.1953)
1947
Mr T N Allan appointed Trustee, replacing Mr N Edmondson.
1951
Miles Tarn School Foundation (New Hutton School) Trustees are officially appointed by the Minister of Education under the Charitable Trusts Acts 1853-1925.
Trustees:
The Vicar “for the time being”
Mr Anthony John Armistead (died 17.12.1972), Mr Albert Edward Barber (replacing Mr J Stubbs), Mr John Henry Dawson (resigned 1970, died 15.3.1976)
1973
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr J H Askew (appointed Trustee replacing Mr A J Armistead), Mr A E Barber (died 22.8.1980), Rev D Murray (resigned 1985 – vicarage sold), Mr W E Ellis (appointed Trustee replacing Mr J H Dawson)
1980
Mr D Cottam appointed Trustee replacing Mr A E Barber
1981
Electricity supply installed by the Trustees. Requests to route through church property refused.
1985
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr D Cottam, Mr J H Askew (died 24.2.1986), Mr W E Ellis (resigned 2002), Mr K Sedgwick (appointed replacing Rev D Murray – resigned 2002)
1990-91
Toilet and wash basin installed by the Trustees, followed by septic tank and water holding tank.
1999
The Trustees and Parish Council begin their search for the title deeds, commencing late 1999, as the original deeds cannot be traced.
2002
Fifty six years after the school closes, as a consequence of document preparation for HM Land Registry at Durham, Carlisle Diocese expresses an interest in the Old School.
Trustees:
Mr T N Allan, Mr D Cottam, Mr P Bell (appointed Trustee replacing Mr W E Ellis), Mr J F Clarke (appointed Trustee replacing Rev D Fowler), Mr I W Mason (appointed Trustee replacing Mr K Sedgwick)
2004
Original Trustees apply to HM Land Registry seeking adverse possession and formal registration of title.
2005
Trustees advised to become a recognised “company” and become the Miles Tarn Community Action Group to formalise their legal position.
Company Members:
Mr T N Allan, Mr P Bell, Mr J F Clarke (resigned 2008), Mr D Cottam, Mr I W Mason
2006
Carlisle Diocese serves notice by publication in the Westmorland Gazette on 27 January 2006 claiming ownership of the Old School under Sections 554 and 556 of the Education Act 1996. MTCA have 100 per cent support from parishioners following a parish questionnaire.
Complex and costly legal proceedings begin contesting diocesan ownership of the Old School.
2007
Secretary of State for Education rules that Carlisle Diocese has no claim. MTCA again pursue their title claim with HM Land Registry.
2008
Land Registry require proven evidence of continued Trusteeship before legal title is granted.
Boundary walls repaired and rebuilt.
Area surrounding the Old School building cleared and tidied.
Mr M Ellwood appointed Company Member replacing Mr J F Clarke
2009
Formal registration by Land Registry on 3 June 2009 of legal ownership of the freehold land known as The Old School, New Hutton, and the land known as Amoras Close on the east side of Nannypie Lane, Sedgwick.
Local residents are invited to celebrate this event at The Old School.
The Old Schoolyard is cleared and resurfaced by the trustees and helpers with financial assistance from the Windfarm Community Fund.
A fundraising Treasure Hunt is held in the village.
Mrs Jean Robinson appointed a Company Member.
2013
The present Trustees are now:
I W Mason (Director), M Ellwood (Secretary)
N Allen, D Cottam, T Ellis, C Agar
2014
The Trustees, with effect from August 2014, are:
Ian Mason (Director)
Dennis Cottam (Director)
Mathew Ellwood (Director)
Tony Ellis (Director)
Cliff Agar (Director)
Alan Woof (Director)
2016
Mathew Ellwood resigned as Director
