The Old School
1859: Richard Wells, master, National School, Mrs Sophie Sayer, mistress
1871: Mr & Mrs R Wye, first govermnent teachers
1874: Robert Wye, Mrs Mary Wye, Miss Ellen Wye
1878/90: Robert Wye, Master, Mrs Susan Emmeline Wye, Mistress, Miss Fanny
Wye, Infants Mistress
1893: Robert Wye, master, assistant overseer (at the Union) and collector of tithes and
Queen's taxes; Miss GF Wye, assistant, boys’ school, Mrs Wye girls, Miss Wye,
infants
1893: Robert Wye, Miss GF Wye, Mrs Wye, Miss Wye
1903: John George Andrews, Master (Robert Wye retired in 1911)
1907-18: JG Andrews, Master, Miss F Wye, Infants
1918: JG Andrews Master, Miss CG Wye, infants
1924: WJ Billing, Master, Miss M Bell, infants (KCC control)
1940: Public Elementary School
Mrs Olive Knight (appointed 1948) retired as headmistress summer 1971
(19737), after two terms in the new school, and was replaced by Miss W Tomlin.
Interesting Presentation at Bridge: There was a pleasant gathering at the school on
the 24th when Miss Wye was presented with a purse of gold, subscribed for by the
managers, scholars (past and present), parents, and friends, as a token of esteem and
appreciation of her 44 years work as headmistress of the infants’ school. The
presentation was made by the Vicar (Rev. H Knight), who spoke most highly of Miss
Wye's work, as testified by the uniformly excellent reports of inspectors eulogising
her skill as a teacher and her tact in the management of the little ones to whom she
had been a second mother. (Kentish Gazette, January 1 1916) (Williamson 435)
Diamond Wedding: Mr[b 1847] & Mrs[b 1844] R Wye, retired head teachers, who
celebrated their diamond wedding on Tuesday, have resided in Bridge for 58 years.
Mr Wye, after serving as a pupil teacher at Warrington, was trained at St Peter's
College, Peterborough, and secured his certificate in 1867. He was appointed
headmaster of the CE Boys’ school at Shepton Mallett, Somerset, where the future
Mrs Wye was then headmistress of the Infants’ school. They were married at the
Parish Church, Shepton Mallett, by the Rev. Canon Pratt on June 18th, 1869.
Resigning their posts there in 1871 , they were appointed to the headships of the Boys’
and Girls‘ Schools at Bridge, from which they retired in September 1900. Mr Wye has
led a strenuous life at Bridge. Whilst at the school he was organist of Patrixbourne,
conducted a large Band of Hope, and almost before lay readers were thought of, took
a week night cottage service in an outlying part of the parish. He also held several
public appointments, such as Assistant Overseer and Rate Collector for three parishes,
Collector of Taxes for 12 parishes, collector of Tithes, etc. For over 45 years he has
been connected with the Marquess Conyngham estate office, which he still attends,
and has for 25 years been lay reader, churchwarden and school manager at Bridge, a
post which he still occupies. At Christmas 1871, Mr Wye's sister, Miss F Wye, was
appointed headmistress of the Infants’ School, from which she retired in 1914. During
their tenure as head teachers all three departments received meritorious mention in the
Education Office Blue Books, and whilst the ‘Excellent’ Merit Grant was in vogue, it
was awarded to each department. Their respective ages now are: Mr Wye 82, Mrs
Wye 85, Miss Wye 78. One of their old scholars is now a clergyman, another a doctor
and specialist in New Zealand, and another, now deceased, obtained a post in the
Chinese Diplomatic Service. - not a bad record for a village school. (Williamson J86-
no source or date)