The Story of Mayplace A historical look at Mayplace School Many years ago Barnehurst and Crayford were just fields and woodlands with lovely big mansion houses and farms on its lands. These houses and farms included Martens Grove; Mayplace; Manor House; Shenstone; Oakwood; Mayplace Farm and Halcot. In the 1930's a number of building developments took place in the district. By 1933 a large estate of houses had grown around the railway at Barnehurst (see local map 1933). A school had to be built for the children who came to live in these houses. At first it was thought that a temporary school would be sufficient but later it was agreed that a permanent school would be necessary. So Mayplace was built in the grounds of Oakwood House in the latter part of 1933. The building cost around 10.930 providing accommodation for 338 infant and junior children. There were 7 classrooms, an assembly hall, a Headteachers room, a staff room and the usual cloakrooms and offices. It was first opened to the children on the 23 October 1933. Children came from Mayplace and Barnehurst estates. The Headteacher was Mr C T English, former Head of the Junior Boys Department of a school in Ashford with a staff of eight assistant teachers. The School was officially opened on Wednesday 6 December 1933 by Lord Northbourne, Vice-Chairman of the Kent Education Committee, who was involved in the building of the school. The original building was where the junior playground now is. There was only one entrance at this time and that was the one in Woodside Road. During World War Two, in September 1940, the school was largely destroyed by fire. A Shower of incendiary bombs fell in the Oakwood area. The school itself was hit by 40 incendiary bombs as reported by the Head of Crayford Fire Brigade who found 40 bomb tails in the wreckage. Other bombs also fell on the school later on in October and the following April, but no damage resulted. Having no school, children due to sit their 11+ exams were taught in the front parlours of homes whilst the rest of the children had to wait until huts could be found and erected. The classroom huts were erected in the grounds where the present huts stand. The school and canteen were erected in the field, the classrooms were ex-chicken battery huts and the hall was an ex-british Legion hall! Extract from the school log book started on Sept 17 1940 by Christopher English, Headteacher 1933-1953
Between 1941 when re-opening of the school took place, and 1953, the school carried on with difficulty in the rooms of the old building and the various temporary huts provided. Three classrooms, a lavatory block and a small cloakroom were all that were found fit for repair after the fire. In 1952 a well-designed new block comprising an assembly hall, six classrooms and administrative rooms was built and officially opened in 1953. However the school roll had risen so steeply that the new building proved sufficient to house only the infant classes. The junior classes continued to work in the repaired buildings and temporary huts. Over the years various accommodation was provided to replace classrooms which were destroyed. In 1967 a double classroom unit was provided with the addition of mobile classrooms to accommodate a further three classes in 1973. These mobile classrooms replaced the hutted classrooms which had been in use since 1942. An addition of three more classrooms attached to the main school were built in 1969.
Final entry made by Mr English before retiring in 1953 In September 1953, Mr Jakeways took over as Headteacher of the school. Mr Jakeways remained Headteacher at the school for 19 years eventually retiring in July 1972. In 1965 the area of Crayford, Erith, Bexley and part of Sidcup became the new 'London Borough of Bexley' as we know it today.
Mr Jakeways made his last entry on 20th July 1972. This was the last entry ever made in the diary. Oakwood House After Mayplace was built, all the lovely big old houses around started to slowly disappear, although lots of roads, places and schools around us have been named after them. Oakwood was once a beautiful mansion house which stood hidden within the school wood. The school buildings which we are now in were once part of Oakwood's lovely gardens. The grounds of Oakwood originally covered eight acres with woodland, bracken and forest growth of oak. In the gardens around the house were stables, vineries, peach houses and many fine tree specimens. The house had two entrances, one through Oakwood Drive, which used to be a drive of lime trees and the other from near the gasworks in Watling Street where you had to pass through the gardener's lodge. The entrance to the actual house was through a large conservatory and the drive we use to get down to the school playground was part of the original drive. Once a famous actress call Ellen Terry, aged 72, came to Oakwood to make a silent black and white film called 'The Pillars of Society'. Old houses are, however, very expensive to look after and very slowly the empty house of Oakwood fell down with the help of vandals. However, if you were to look very hard in the school woods, you might find some of the old foundations of Oakwood House. School Life In the early days of Mayplace School, much rote learning took place (learning by heart). This involved tables; spellings; hymns and poems. Other subjects taught included reading, writing and arithmetic, known as the "three R's", as well as art, needlework, sports and religious education. It was complimented for the high standards it maintained. The school was very keen on sports. There were many sports events including a sports day in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. All children were given a Jubilee spoon to commemorate the event. The school also won the local Kent cup three years running for the Junior Rely Team. Punishment at that time included standing in the corner with your face to the wall, if you were in the lower classes, otherwise to be sent out of the room was quite usual where the Headteacher would often find you. The cane was also very much in use. When the school first opened there were no school dinners, although there was milk during morning break. Later on, after 1953, there was a school uniform but this was only worn on special occasions, however many wore black blazers with red piping and a phoenix on the top pocket, to school. The school also had a large orchestra during the 1960's with about 70 children involved. They participated in inter-school competitions and were also the highlight of the school concert at Mayplace. Mr. Wood was the teacher who organised and ran this successful musical group.
Martyn Jordan - Headteacher 1992 - Easter 2003 Born in East Yorkshire, Martyn trained at Avery Hill College and is married with two children. He has worked in the London area teaching in a variety of primary schools and has lectured in Pottery to adults (evening). Martyn was Headteacher at Mayplace for 12 years (his second headship), is an NPQH trainer and an accredited Threshold Assessor and an External Adviser. Martin now works part time as an Educational Consultant for the University of London, the DFES and Cambridge Educational Associates