History: Rackvernal School

Ref: 08/00729/FUL

In 1831, Sophia Kelson had a desire to establish a school in the parish of Midsomer Norton for the children of the poor to be educated. An indenture was therefore made on 18 March 1831 and provided the piece of land for the schoolroom with suitable offices to be built.

 

The parties to the indenture were Miss Sophia Kelson of Midsomer Norton being one party, and Thomas Mortimer Kelson, Thomas Savage, both of Midsomer Norton, Rev Augustus Asgill Colville, vicar of Midsomer Norton and William Coxter James of Timsbury being the other party.

 

Sophia Kelson’s gift of land included the free use of all the roadways and paths leading to and from the school, and the hedges belonging to the plot of land. The property was built in a large field that stretched from the now South Road/Rackvernal Road junction down past the Somer Community Centre.

 

On 18 October 1831, Sophia Kelson made a Grant, to Rev Augustus Asgill Colville, of the ground and buildings for the establishment of a National School at Midsomer Norton. The school was strongly linked by the society in London, known as the National Society for The Education of The Poor, to the established church within the parish, St John's Church. The school was supervised by the society in London and the officiating minister of the time. If the society in London ceased to exist then the Trustees were to continue to run the school within the regulations set up by the vicar and Sophia Kelson, or her heirs. The regulations, being in part, that the buildings were not to be used for any other purpose apart from those mentioned (for education) or for parochial business, unless with Sophia's consent.

 

The master or mistress of the school was to be chosen by the vicar or under his direction. Should the school run out of funds and cease to exist for 5 years after the calendar months notice given in writing by Sophia or her heirs, then the plot of ground with the property is to be returned to Sophia or her heirs then passed to the vicar and churchwardens to be used by the parish.

 

The Church of St John held the property within a charity and leased the property to Somervale School, which was located in the High Street, next to the Methodist Church (now County Primary School), as overspill class rooms. Woodwork and cookery classes were amongst the lessons held in the Old School Hall. Somervale School continued to use the property up to such times as the new school was built in Redfield Road, during the Iate1950's (completed in the 1960's).

 

After this, the British Red Cross Society took the lease and their members moved, a very successful group from Farrington Gurney, into the hall. Here they continued to use their 'own' property to educate members of the public as well as their existing members, (adults as well as children), in First Aid, Nursing, Welfare, and other associated skills as well as continuing to teach the cadets (youth and juniors) similar skills. The success of the group, in their own premises, went from strength to strength.

 

In 1990 the gales destroyed the roof of the building and the Midsomer Norton group of the British Red Cross left as the building was no longer secure or weatherproof, the lease was terminated. Some five years or more later the property was released by the church from it's charitable status and offered for sale, by tender, in late January 1996.

 

A private individual, with the intention of giving it to the Red Cross to use, bought it. By this time, the property, had fallen into really bad disrepair so it was not feasible for the Red Cross to take it on, as they had no funds for property upkeep, so in February 1998 the hall was set up as a charity, Rackvernal Old School Hall Trust, which has now been dissolved.