School, Isleham Fen

History of Isleham Fen School

In the 1930s Mrs Walker, headmistress lived here, together with her carpenter husband. Two of the teachers also lived here but there was a third elsewhere. The school also served as a church on Sundays.

Henry Richard Quinn, the first headmaster of the Fen school, was the first to take flower growing seriously in the locality. The most famous flower grower to have been born in the Fen was ben Quinn, one of the three sons of the headmaster. ‘Starting from nothing’ as it is always said, Ben Quinn gradually acquired or rented a large acreage in West Row Fen over the river … some say up to 10 acres and created much seasonal employment. In due course Ben Quinn acquired his own lorry with the inscription’Ben Quinn Stock and Aster.’ Tom Quinn assisted his brother and was a flower grower himself.

Source: The History of Isleham Fen in the 1930s by Polly Hill, Clare Hall, 1990

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Founded 1879

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1881 West Bank of River Lark National School

Henry Richard Quinn, 37, schoolmaster, b Ireland

Kate, 37, b Middlesex

Harriet, 9, b London

Francis Henry, 8, b London

Thomas, 6, b Isleham

William, 4, b Isleham

Kate Fielders Quinn, 1, b Isleham

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1891 School House and Sundays for church services

Henry Richard Quinn, 47, certificated teacher

Kate, 47,

Harriet, 19,

Francis, 18, small farmer

Thomas, 16,

William, 14,

Kate Fielders, 11,

Walter Benjamin, 7, b Isleham

Edward H, 1, b Isleham

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1901 Fen Bank

Henry R Quinn, 57, school master lay reader,

Kate, 57,

Harriet, 29, teacher in day school

Walter B, 17, market gardener,

Edward H, 11,

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1911

Walter  Benjamin Quinn, 27, market gardener

Ellen Mary, 22, b Suffolk

Thomas, brother, 36, market gardener

Alice Marguerite Annie Carr, boarder, 23, elementary school mistress, b Northants

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1921 School House

Walter Benjamin Quinn, 38, market grower, b Isleham

Ellen Mary, 33, b Suffolk

Thomas Quinn, brother, 45, market gardener,  b Isleham

Henrietta Paterson Lawrie, 27, school mistress, b Michigan USA

In 1911 Henrietta had been living in Workington, Cumbria. The other members of her family were born in the UK.

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1922 Henrietta Paterson Lawrie married Albert Charles Clarke, 37, farmer at the parish church in Mildenhall. her father was Thomas Lawrie, deceased, accountant.