Caroline Lindley - Educationalist
THE Caroline Lindley Trust is a Hethersett charity which gives educational grants for young people living in the village aged between 18 and 25. But just who was Caroline Lindley?
Caroline Lindley is a fascinating figure in the history of the village. A great educationalist and benefactor, her kindness and philanthropic outlook on life was a shining example of altruism.
Much of the credit for the building of the British School in the village must go to the efforts of Caroline Lindley who tirelessly raised money to provide education for both children and adults in the Great Melton district.
The original benefactor of the British School was Edward Lombe of Great Melton Hall who financially supported the project but died in 1852 which is the point at which Caroline Lindley enters the story. She visited her brother Joseph who was the agent for Edward Lombe. Caroline had a great interest in the provision of education for children and, although by this point in her 50s and living in London, she raised sufficient capital for the school to be established in Henstead Road (today the school is the Church Hall).
Caroline Lindley was a friend of London businessman William Ellis who, despite having no connections with Hethersett, was to play a major part in education in the village.
Ellis was manager of the Indemnity Marine Assurance Company and had a reputation for integrity whilst being both successful and affluent. He had little use for personal extravagance and devoted a large portion of his income to education throughout the country.
His wishes were for children to study Social Economy alongside the 3 Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic). This included the study of moral principles and behaviour 'leading to honest workmanship and reliable business dealings.' Ellis believed these principles would lead to a happy and prosperous society full of industry, skill, economy, sobriety, honesty, punctuality, courage and fidelity.
Ellis established schools in numerous parts of London including the Birkbeck School, London Mechanics (1848), the Finsbury Birkbeck School (1849), Paddington Birkbeck School (1850), Bethnal Green Birkbeck School (1851), Westminister Birkbeck School (1851) and Beckham Birkbeck School (1852).The Birkbeck schools were named in memory of George Birkbeck a mechanics lecturer, scholar and philanthropist. Outside London he established schools in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leith, Manchester, Salford, Blandford, King’s Sambourne in Hampshire, Dunton Bassett in Leicestershire and of course Hethersett. When Caroline Lindley approached Ellis she found his heart as open as always and in her diary of 23rd July, 1853, notes:
'Received Mr Ellis’ answer to my letter, overjoyed with it and school bought.'
Ellis purchased the British School with money belonging to himself and vested the property in four trustees – himself, his son Edward, Joseph Lindley and Julian Hill. The first management committee consisted of Caroline Lindley of London and William Buckingham, William Morton, Benjamin Baker and James Spurgeon of Hethersett.
Ellis was obviously much taken with Caroline Lindley whom he described as: 'Possessing feelings ever ready to melt at the sight of misery and an intelligence prepared to examine the various means suggested for its relief, and to seize and apply the real ones.'
In commending Caroline’s efforts, Ellis said: 'To us be the delight of aiding her in her labour of love.'
Obviously altruism ran in the Lindley family as Caroline’s sister Kate founded a school at Warmfield in Yorkshire.
Today in the 21st century, Caroline Lindley's name lives on in an Educational Foundation which exists to offer support to students from Hethersett going on to study at university, college or other Higher Education establishments.
Caroline Lindley is a fascinating figure in the history of the village. A great educationalist and benefactor, her kindness and philanthropic outlook on life was a shining example of altruism.
Much of the credit for the building of the British School in the village must go to the efforts of Caroline Lindley who tirelessly raised money to provide education for both children and adults in the Great Melton district.
The original benefactor of the British School was Edward Lombe of Great Melton Hall who financially supported the project but died in 1852 which is the point at which Caroline Lindley enters the story. She visited her brother Joseph who was the agent for Edward Lombe. Caroline had a great interest in the provision of education for children and, although by this point in her 50s and living in London, she raised sufficient capital for the school to be established in Henstead Road (today the school is the Church Hall).
Caroline Lindley was a friend of London businessman William Ellis who, despite having no connections with Hethersett, was to play a major part in education in the village.
Ellis was manager of the Indemnity Marine Assurance Company and had a reputation for integrity whilst being both successful and affluent. He had little use for personal extravagance and devoted a large portion of his income to education throughout the country.
His wishes were for children to study Social Economy alongside the 3 Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic). This included the study of moral principles and behaviour 'leading to honest workmanship and reliable business dealings.' Ellis believed these principles would lead to a happy and prosperous society full of industry, skill, economy, sobriety, honesty, punctuality, courage and fidelity.
Ellis established schools in numerous parts of London including the Birkbeck School, London Mechanics (1848), the Finsbury Birkbeck School (1849), Paddington Birkbeck School (1850), Bethnal Green Birkbeck School (1851), Westminister Birkbeck School (1851) and Beckham Birkbeck School (1852).The Birkbeck schools were named in memory of George Birkbeck a mechanics lecturer, scholar and philanthropist. Outside London he established schools in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leith, Manchester, Salford, Blandford, King’s Sambourne in Hampshire, Dunton Bassett in Leicestershire and of course Hethersett. When Caroline Lindley approached Ellis she found his heart as open as always and in her diary of 23rd July, 1853, notes:
'Received Mr Ellis’ answer to my letter, overjoyed with it and school bought.'
Ellis purchased the British School with money belonging to himself and vested the property in four trustees – himself, his son Edward, Joseph Lindley and Julian Hill. The first management committee consisted of Caroline Lindley of London and William Buckingham, William Morton, Benjamin Baker and James Spurgeon of Hethersett.
Ellis was obviously much taken with Caroline Lindley whom he described as: 'Possessing feelings ever ready to melt at the sight of misery and an intelligence prepared to examine the various means suggested for its relief, and to seize and apply the real ones.'
In commending Caroline’s efforts, Ellis said: 'To us be the delight of aiding her in her labour of love.'
Obviously altruism ran in the Lindley family as Caroline’s sister Kate founded a school at Warmfield in Yorkshire.
Today in the 21st century, Caroline Lindley's name lives on in an Educational Foundation which exists to offer support to students from Hethersett going on to study at university, college or other Higher Education establishments.