Preserving The Ragged Papers

A valuable insight into nineteenth century school life in Dover has been preserved in a unique collection of ‘ragged’ papers recently donated to Dover Museum.

Historic records from Dover’s ‘Ragged School’, including school registers, logs and teaching diaries, were part of a donation to the museum regarding an ancient Dover family, the Worsfolds.

The school in Ladywell was set up by local philanthropists in 1850, at a time before there was any compulsory state education, to teach the ‘poor’ of the district. The papers include: grades of students’ abilities from ‘literate’ to ‘ignorant’; lists of repayments of loans to buy ‘Sunday-best’ clothing to go to church in; and details of incidents of vandalism from pupils - and their parents! - who ‘resented’ the presence of the school.

Mark Frost, Senior Assistant Curator, said: “The papers make fascinating reading and really provide a marvellous window into some of the realities of life in the nineteenth century.

“We are very grateful for this generous donation, and although some of the papers are indeed a little ‘ragged’, they will be given to the East Kent Archive at Whitfield, and this valuable insight into the past will be properly preserved for the future.”

Dover Museum is open 10am-6pm throughout the summer and 10am-5pm in the winter.  For further information contact them on 01304 201066

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