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Gymnastics Anyone?

A further view of the gymnasium at the Towers School, although yet again the appropriate dress seems to be skirts. Surely this would have been a problem with the parallel bars? We presume this was a posed image perhaps for the school brochure, imagine having to do P.E. in those tunics?

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century

Swimming Pool

Towers School pupils enjoying bathing in the swimming pool in Saltburn baths. The sea water for the pool was changed once a week and the water was officially described as ‘tepid but we suspect that would mean cold! These sessions would be non-public and for the sole and exclusive use of the pupils of Towers school.

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century, information courtesy of ‘Saltburn-By-The-Sea Revisited’.

Sketching Class

Towers School pupils enjoying reproducing nature; imagine lugging a stool and those easels any distance. Perhaps they had a school porter? I hope he was strong?

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Kindergarten

We presume this was a quiet session for the younger pupils of Towers School. Was this an obligatory afternoon nap or they did not want to look at the wallpaper which resembles spiders?

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Tuning Up

Perhaps for a concert or school assembly at the Towers? We particularly like the harp, not an instrument for street musicians!

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Forty Love

This image is at slight odds with the records which we now have available to the Archive. Despite showing the young ladies enjoying tennis in the lower valley at Saltburn, it is understood that the school had purpose-built tennis courts on the what is now the site of the library on Windsor Road. However Callum Duff explains: ”I would imagine that Towers School used these tennis courts for competitions and their own for lessons. The land on either side of the valley offering the opportunity for pupils and staff to spectate as can be seen here.”

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century, many thanks to Callum Duff for resolving our uncertainty.

Music Whilst You Read

A further view of a Towers School sitting room, which obviously doubled up as the practice room for music.

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Girl’s Lounge

Towers School c.1905 (described in the brochure as ‘Girl’s sitting room’) obviously a quiet room; a place for reading and quiet contemplation. No television (too early), not even a phonograph in sight. How different such a room would be today.

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Edith Haycraft

Edith Mary Lillian Haycraft to give her full name was headmistress of Towers School, Saltburn until c.1939. She retired to Castleton, but for the last few years of her role as head at Towers School she was ‘guardian’ of her niece Joan Dibdin. Joan’s parents Lionel Dibdin and Cecily (nee Haycraft) were killed in a plane crash in 1933 leaving two orphan children; Peter and Cecily. Cecily spent her school holidays from Bexhill with Edith, in 1939 Cecily left Bexhill to attend the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.

Will it Fit?

A dressmaking class, Towers School, Saltburn; early 1900’s. No electric sewing machines, the old fashioned treadle machines, just like mother had! Am I showing my age?

Image courtesy of a promotional brochure for Towers School at the turn of the 19th century.