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Fairford History Society
Fairford History Society
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Fairford History Society
Location: Gloucestershire
Fairford Community Play Project - The Background
Fairford History Society was started in 2004 as a result of the great interest that was aroused by the plans to restore and refurbish the Old Farmor’s School, a Georgian building which had fallen in decay. Fairford Town Council and the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Church jointly purchased the building in 2002 with the aim of making it into a Community Centre with club meeting rooms and to house the Church Office, FTC Office, Council Chamber and the Volunteer Bureau and a small Heritage Room.
The building has a fascinating history; the original building was financed by three charitable ladies from the family of the Lord of the Manor for the education of 60 poor local boys. It dates from 1738 which is very early for a purpose-built free school. It was extended to accommodate girls in 1815 after a court case brought about by the opposition to girls attending the school. The school became co-educational in 1922 and night school classes were introduced three years later. During the Second World War evacuees from London and other areas attended the school. When the school closed in 1961 it moved to one of the first purpose-built comprehensive schools in the country on the site of the Lord of the Manor’s home in Fairford Park.
We wanted to find out more about its history and tell the story to the local community, particularly young people. A community play seemed the best way to tell that story and to make a permanent record for future generations.
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