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Education
Education in the mid-late 18th century was severely limited by the few number of schools. Where schools were
available, they had limited space and were open only to boys whose families could afford the fees.
In the early 19th century schools relied heavily on charity from private sources and from some mining companies,
as well as parents. From the 1818-1840 the mining companies became more actively involved in establishing schools
for their worker's children, particularly the London Lead Company which was rooted in Quakerism. Spurred on by this
generosity, the Church of England began to increase its number of sponsored schools.
In the mid 18th century the Beaumonts, the largest mining concern in the Rookhope area began to invest in schools.
All were heavily regulated by the mining agent and a committee of workmen. It was not compulsory for the children to
attend and they were open to all, not only the children of miners. Also, the schools were not free as they are today.
The opportunity to further oneself through self-education began to grow in the late 18th century with the
appearance of libraries in the larger communities. After 1820 there was a rapid expansion in the number of
libraries due to funding from the mining companies. Those funded by the Beaumonts charged an annual joining fee,
payable quarterly. Children's libraries were often run alongside the adult ones. How often the libraries were used,
how many and what types of books they contained, is unfortunately not accurately recorded.
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