Of the three tenders submitted – two were for approximately £595 and another – from Messrs Clement Theobald of Melford, for £550 was accepted. The architect was Woolmer Robert Firmin.
The old school was opened in the 1830’s, and was small and not capable of enlargement, and poorly positioned. It is not clear where this was. The idea for a new school was first mooted in 1870 and during 1871 active plans were made, permission obtained and tenders considered.
The conveyance deed is dated 25th September 1871 and “enrolled in Her Majesty’s High court of Chancery the 5th day of October in the year of our Lord 1871”.
The site was conveyed by the rev. John Mayne ST. Clere Raymond to “the minister and the Church Wardens for the time being, and their successors.” Signed sealed and delivered by the rev. J. M. St. Clere Raymond, Oliver Raymond, Robert Firmin and Charles Adams, in the presence of George M Andrews – Solicitor, Sudbury.
The builders agreement was signed on 24th October 1871 and work started.
An appeal for voluntary subscriptions was launched and totalled: £196 – 12 – 0
Later, a further list of subs totalled £59 – 3 – 0
Other contributions were made by various public bodies, and the balance sheet at date of completion as follows:
| Assets | £ | S | D |
| Voluntary subscriptions | 255 | 1 | 3 |
| Sale of old school | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Grants from the national society | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| Diocese | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| SPCK | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Government | 145 | 10 | 0 |
| Value of site (given by J.M.St.C.R) | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Balance Paid | 128 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 735 | 7 | 3 |
| Liabilities | £ | S | D |
| Site (as certified) | 52 | 10 | 0 |
| School building, boundary wall & outbuildings | 593 | 10 | 6 |
| Desks, benches and fittings | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Architects commission | 32 | 10 | 6 |
| Legal expenses | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Sundry expenses | 8 | 6 | 3 |
| Bell | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 735 | 7 | 3 |
The trust deed of the old school is dated 26th February 1838 and was presumably surrendered when the building of the new school was sanctioned.
According to the records, the old school building was only 28 feet long X 15 feet broad X 12 feet high, or 5040 cubic feet. In the old wording – this gave “breathing space for 63 scholars @ 80 cubic feet each, and standing space for 52 ½ @ 8 feet each.
The measurements proposed for the new school were 55’ X 70’ X 185’ high with a class room 18’ X 15’ X 18’ high, but curiously enough, the actual dimensions don’t seem to be mentioned in the architects specification, which only deals with the materials to be used.
The foundation stone as laid by Mrs. St Clere Raymond, and the mallet and trowel presented to her on that occasion have been preserved.
The school was opened on 22nd August 1872, under a headmistress and 106 children, the population of the village being 708 at that time. 170 families were members of the church of England.
The school management committee at the time of opening were as follows:
The Vicar – Rev. Oliver Raymond, and alternatively his curate
Vicars Warden – Mr Robert Firmin
Peoples Warden – Mr Charles Adams
Mr William Wright
Mr Henry Mann
Mr George Washington Brownlow
Rev. John Mayne St. Clere Raymond
The name of Mr George Coote also appears on some documents as representing the managers.
Kelly’s directory of Essex in 1882 states that a national school for 123 children was built in 1872.
By 1902 the average attendance was 77 children.
Boarded out children from Croydon Union were admitted to the school before the second world war and during the war a number of evacuees were accommodated.
By 1946, there were only 12 children on roll, this rose to 19 in 1962.
