Little Laver: School and charity

SCHOOL AND CHARITY

In 1807 there was no school in the parish but the rector paid for a few children to attend a neighbouring school. (fn. 1) In 1818 there was still no school of any kind in Little Laver, though the poor were said to desire education for their children. (fn. 2) In 1833 some children were apparently paying 1d. a week to attend a school in Matching; in their own parish there was only a Sunday school, founded two years before and attended by 17 girls and 8 boys. (fn. 3) In 1846-7 attendance at the Sunday school had fallen to 7, a mistress being paid £2 12s. a year to teach them. (fn. 4) Some children probably attended the day school in High Laver (q.v.) after its erection in 1866. In 1872 this school was said to have accommodation for all the 19 children from Little Laver in need of places. (fn. 5) Thereafter it continued to serve both parishes. (fn. 6)

By a deed of 1891 Arbury Hill Hoppit (2 r. 17 p.) was vested in the rector, the rector's warden, and the owner or occupier of Little Laver Hall in trust for use as a Sunday school and parish room for the education of the poor. (fn. 7) The building erected for this purpose is now known as the village hall and is administered by a village committee, its principal use being as a social club. (fn. 8) It is a single-story building of brown brick.