119 (101) High Street, Pepys House, Pepys School, Cottenham

History of 119 High Street

119-121 High Street, Cottenham

According to Charity School to Village College, 1968, the Pepys School is over a century younger that the school at Willingham and it was created by private bequest. But there was a school before this; Cottenham was one of 22 Cambridgeshire parishes that had a schoolmaster by 1596.

1835

Pepys School built to replace school established before 1596 near the church. The fist school was destroyed in 1617 when the steeple fell on it and was rebuilt with an endowment by Katherine Pepys in 1697. Katherin had left money for a school to educate 21 poor charity boys. (See Cottenham in Focus, 2002).

When the new school was built about 70 boys could be accommodated; free education was limited to 26, the other 44 were fee paying. As it was the rector and church-wardens who decided which children could attend, Dissenters in the village set up their own school in Margett Street, which later became the Board School.

1841

John Male, 70, farmer

Thomas , 45, farmer

Elizabeth, 40

James, 12

William, 9

Eliza, 7

Mary, 5

John, 3

Harriett, 5mos

Ann Wolk, 20, servant

John Burkett, 10, servant

1843

First Cottenham Post office opened here when Mr Thomas Haird was master at the school.

1851

James Male, 21, farmer of 140 acres employing 6 men, b Cottenham

William, 18, brother

1861

Martha Male, 29, owner of land, b Cottenham

1871

Charles Ward, 46, farmer of 45 acres employing 1 man, b Cottenham

1880

Pepys School closed

1881

William Vials, 51, police constable, b Dry Drayton

1891

Bowers Jacklin, 40, police constable, b Kingston

1901

George J Sanderson, 56, gardener, b London

1911

Phebe Leader, 66, fruit grower, b Cottenham

Annie, 36, b Cottenham

Edith Mary, 25, assistant teacher, b Cottenham

1939 (101)

Annie Leader, b 1874, fruit grower

Edith, b 1885, certified assistant school mistress

Modern (119)