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Poorhouse School:
Information Needed Please Can you help Ian Chandler who is seeking to fill gaps in his knowledge of the Box Charity School and its teachers. Ian's family story was given in the article Chandler Family. We need your help with school details and the Mullins family in the period about 1841 and any photos or illustrations would be appreciated. Right: The earliest known photograph of the Poorhouse, Church Lane (courtesy Box Parish Council) |
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Ian Chandler Asked
I really enjoyed the article about the Mullins family of schoolmasters. It was very interesting learning about the early years of the school and seeing the photograph of the Rev George Mullins from whom my four times great grandfather Isaac Chandler took over. It has made me feel quite proud that my ancestor was able to keep the school going.
I wonder if there may be a photograph of my grandfather somewhere in an old family album. Would it be possible to ask your readers if they have any old photographs of the school from that period (1841 - 1860) ?
I really enjoyed the article about the Mullins family of schoolmasters. It was very interesting learning about the early years of the school and seeing the photograph of the Rev George Mullins from whom my four times great grandfather Isaac Chandler took over. It has made me feel quite proud that my ancestor was able to keep the school going.
I wonder if there may be a photograph of my grandfather somewhere in an old family album. Would it be possible to ask your readers if they have any old photographs of the school from that period (1841 - 1860) ?
Peter Mullins Replied
The only new information we have is an advert my wife recently unearthed from the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette of 30th July 1807:
BOX SCHOOLS. Jane, George & Edward Mullins respectfully inform their friends & the public that they have engaged such assistance in the department filled by their late brother (John) as will enable them to continue their SCHOOLS with the same benefit...
This was just an interim situation because the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette of 15 July 1824 records that the boys school was still being run by the Mullins family:
Mr Mullins (presumably Mullins, Senior) respectfully informs his friends and the public that this Classical Boarding School at Box, Wilts, principally conducted by the Rev George Mullins, will re-open July 19th. Teaching was in Greek, Latin and English Languages, Writing, Arithmetic, Algebra, Book Keeping, Mensuration (measurement of geometric figures, like circles, triangles and more complex shapes), Surveying, History, and Geography, with the use of the Globes.
The daughter, Miss Mullins, advertised separately that the girls school (at Henley) was reopening. The advertising for pupils continued in the 1830s.
The only new information we have is an advert my wife recently unearthed from the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette of 30th July 1807:
BOX SCHOOLS. Jane, George & Edward Mullins respectfully inform their friends & the public that they have engaged such assistance in the department filled by their late brother (John) as will enable them to continue their SCHOOLS with the same benefit...
This was just an interim situation because the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette of 15 July 1824 records that the boys school was still being run by the Mullins family:
Mr Mullins (presumably Mullins, Senior) respectfully informs his friends and the public that this Classical Boarding School at Box, Wilts, principally conducted by the Rev George Mullins, will re-open July 19th. Teaching was in Greek, Latin and English Languages, Writing, Arithmetic, Algebra, Book Keeping, Mensuration (measurement of geometric figures, like circles, triangles and more complex shapes), Surveying, History, and Geography, with the use of the Globes.
The daughter, Miss Mullins, advertised separately that the girls school (at Henley) was reopening. The advertising for pupils continued in the 1830s.
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Mike Slater Added
I did a little bit of research on George Mullins myself as I once had a glass bottle seal with initials G. M. / Box which I attributed to one of the George Mullinses, probably the earlier one.[1] A picture of it can be seen, right. Rev George Mullins was born 17 August 1800, son of schoolmaster George Mullins. He was surrogate of Box in 1825 having been ordained in 1823, as Rector of Ditteridge. He married Susannah Gardiner of Catherine Place, Bristol, at St Paul's, Bristol, on 5 January 1836. He had originally assisted his ageing father in the running of the school at Box. Rev George Mullins described the Roman remains he discovered in the garden of the vicarage, Box, in 1833.[2] He spoke of stone pillars of rough workmanship ... an altar-like erection ... three tessallated pavements, one of which was twenty-eight feet long. |
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About 27 November 1845, Rev George Mullins was promoted to the Mastership of the Free School and Chaplaincy of the Almshouse at Corsham, founded by the Lady Margaret Hungerford, Patron Lord Radnor. By 1858 George was Rector of Great Chalfield. Rev George Mullins died at 12 Park Terrace, Oxford on 29 April 1867.
[1] Mike Slater's full research into the Mullins family can be read at: http://www.omphalos.org.uk/Bottles/mike4/Companies/Seals.html
[2] To read the full report please see the Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 103 (1833) part 1, p.357 and more details are at http://www.boxromanvilla.org.uk/
[1] Mike Slater's full research into the Mullins family can be read at: http://www.omphalos.org.uk/Bottles/mike4/Companies/Seals.html
[2] To read the full report please see the Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 103 (1833) part 1, p.357 and more details are at http://www.boxromanvilla.org.uk/