The Bellmount School, Watchbell Street, Rye

[Barmaid]

Does anyone know anything about the history of this school please? Or anything about the people who worked there? It was also known as Mr Pretty's school - there is one site on the web that mentions it (a museum site) but I have been unable to find any further info. My gg Grandfather was the head there at the turn of the 19th/20th century and I believe that he and his wife were involved in some scandal. Any suggestions/info, much appreciated, please. Thanks in advance.

[SteveD]

Have you had a look here?:

http://www.ryemuseum.co.uk/dames.htm

This is right at the end of the last page of this section:

"Other stories of these Rye Schools are recorded in the Rye Memories 'Schools in Rye' volume produced by the Local History Group of Thomas Peacocke Community College in 1989."

[SteveD]

Sorry, I'm in too much of a rush - I didn't read all of your question. Maybe that last paragraph could get you further, though.

[HomeAgain]

Dear Barmaid,
I live on Watchbell Street , know the people who now live in Bellmount.and have seen an excellent photo showing the house as it then was, boys who belonged to Mr Pretty's school plus girls from another school across the road at No. 10. This was in a brief article by Frank Palmer: Watchbell Street in the mid 1870's (information much as on the Rye Museum Education page you saw) in Rye's Own, Issue 115 (eb '04) . I could send you the page by email if you'd like. Was your greatgrandfather Mr Pretty??
I'm afraid I don't know anything about 'the scandal' but a group of us are embarking on a Victorian Rye project and I shall investigate. The present occupants don't know anything about Mr Pretty but the man's grandfather may well have been the next occupant. Will let you know if anything relevant turns up. And if you manage to get more information, I'd be interested!

[HomeAgain]

I wonder if this story is the 'scandal' you refer to: It comes from the current resident of No 21 Watchbell St, a couple of doors from Bellmount. ( It is possible the head of Bellmount School lived in an adjacent house. ) :
Around 1900 a spouse living at 20 or 21 Watchbell St (It used to be one house), next to Bellmount, fell in love with someone else's spouse living across the street. Legend has it the two communicated with one another via candles in their windows. The pair eventually emigrated together to Australia. So far as is known the abandoned two did not pair up. The owner of 20/21 Watchbell at the time had the surname Colebrooke. There was a Mrs Colebrooke's school on Watchbell Street. I wonder if all this ties up with what you know about your great great grandfather? I will try to get more details.
Home Again.