|
OF TRIMMER WALK |
Mrs Sarah Trimmer
TRIMMER WALK (Located behind Netley Road,
built in the 1970's) BRENTFORD
THE education of Brentford's poor children was foremost in
the mind of philanthropist and author Sarah Trimmer. Sarah
was born in Ipswich in 1741 and moved to Kew with her family
around 15 years later. Her father, John Joshua Kirby, was an
architect and landscape artist who taught art to George III
while he was still the Prince of Wales. From a young age Sarah
was able to mix with influential figures. Her father was friendly
with Thomas Gainsborough, William Hogarth and Sir Joshua
Reynolds. One anecdote detailing the social circles in which
Sarah dallied has her producing a copy of Milton's Paradise
Lost in order to settle a dispute between Reynolds and Dr Johnson.
Sarah's own interest in the education of children almost certainly
stemmed from the teaching activities she engaged in with her own
offspring. After marrying James Trimmer, whose family owned the
brick kilns and tileworks on the Brentford side of Kew Bridge,
settling down in a house, which stood on the site of the Wagon
and Horses pub, Sarah gave birth to 12 children. She taught them
using the method of mutual instruction a technique developed by
Dr Andrew Bell whereby Sarah would show one child how to teach
a subject to the rest of their siblings. Concerned with the moral,
spiritual and educational welfare of children, she set about
writing several books. The Economy of Charity, written in 1786,
promoted Sunday schools and Sarah is therefore seen as fundamental
in the foundation of this movement. As is the saying, charity
begins at home and Sarah focused a lot of her efforts on helping
the children of Brentford, especially those from poor families.
She set up The Green School in 1786, with the original building
still surviving at 367 Brentford High Street, (I went there during
the war 1940 - 1942 (Peter Rutt). The following year two schools
of industries were established with pupils of both sexes learning
skills to assist them in their future employment. Sarah was again
instrumental in this project, possibly the first to provide
technical training in Britain. The trimmer family were largely
responsible for building St George's Church (St George's Church
in Brentford High Street was built in 1887 to replace the original
church, which dated from the 1760s. In 1913 a tower was added.
The church was declared in 1959 and four years ago the musical
museum opened in the building and the Sarah Trimmer Hall was
named in her honour). Her husband James died in 1792 leaving
Sarah with a 10-year legal wrangle over ownership of the house.
Eventually she had to move to a house in Windmill Road. She died
eight years later, survived by nine of her children.
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Last Updated: 21st NOVEMBER 2005
TRIMMER WALK (Located behind Netley Road,
built in the 1970's) BRENTFORD
THE education of Brentford's poor children was foremost in
the mind of philanthropist and author Sarah Trimmer. Sarah
was born in Ipswich in 1741 and moved to Kew with her family
around 15 years later. Her father, John Joshua Kirby, was an
architect and landscape artist who taught art to George III
while he was still the Prince of Wales. From a young age Sarah
was able to mix with influential figures. Her father was friendly
with Thomas Gainsborough, William Hogarth and Sir Joshua
Reynolds. One anecdote detailing the social circles in which
Sarah dallied has her producing a copy of Milton's Paradise
Lost in order to settle a dispute between Reynolds and Dr Johnson.
Sarah's own interest in the education of children almost certainly
stemmed from the teaching activities she engaged in with her own
offspring. After marrying James Trimmer, whose family owned the
brick kilns and tileworks on the Brentford side of Kew Bridge,
settling down in a house, which stood on the site of the Wagon
and Horses pub, Sarah gave birth to 12 children. She taught them
using the method of mutual instruction a technique developed by
Dr Andrew Bell whereby Sarah would show one child how to teach
a subject to the rest of their siblings. Concerned with the moral,
spiritual and educational welfare of children, she set about
writing several books. The Economy of Charity, written in 1786,
promoted Sunday schools and Sarah is therefore seen as fundamental
in the foundation of this movement. As is the saying, charity
begins at home and Sarah focused a lot of her efforts on helping
the children of Brentford, especially those from poor families.
She set up The Green School in 1786, with the original building
still surviving at 367 Brentford High Street, (I went there during
the war 1940 - 1942 (Peter Rutt). The following year two schools
of industries were established with pupils of both sexes learning
skills to assist them in their future employment. Sarah was again
instrumental in this project, possibly the first to provide
technical training in Britain. The trimmer family were largely
responsible for building St George's Church (St George's Church
in Brentford High Street was built in 1887 to replace the original
church, which dated from the 1760s. In 1913 a tower was added.
The church was declared in 1959 and four years ago the musical
museum opened in the building and the Sarah Trimmer Hall was
named in her honour). Her husband James died in 1792 leaving
Sarah with a 10-year legal wrangle over ownership of the house.
Eventually she had to move to a house in Windmill Road. She died
eight years later, survived by nine of her children.
Don't forget to send your Comments
top-left corner of this page.