The Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron and Filey
Just as we Old Girls hold "our Sisters" in special affection, the Sisters have a special fondness for Filey as it was here in 1904 that the first 12 nuns of the French Congregation of The Sisters of Charity of Evron, established their first presence in the UK. The rising tide of secularism in the French Republican had made teaching by religious orders very difficult and the Order looked to England to allow their educational work to continue.Filey was not a particularly obvious place to begin; there was no significant local Catholic population, no Catholic church or even a priest. In the English province's history* there are accounts of perhaps why Filey in time took so kindly to these French nuns.
"The Scarborough Mercury, on 14 January 1908, reported:
Forty six workmen sat down (for the second such dinner), everything
being prepared by the Sisters.. Three Sisters ... had prepared forty six
name cards, each having the name of the workman and the instrument or
tool of his trade. .. some (of the workmen) were so struck by the cards
that they are having them framed.
... a letter from the Mother Superior thanking the men heartily for the
work they had done (was read and) ... an expression of thanks was also
passed to the Mother Superior and the Sisters, it being stated that but
for the alterations to the Convent, many would have been out of
employment this winter. "
"In February 1914... an entertainment in aid of the Filey poor was presented on two evenings.."
"In addition to the boarding school the Sisters also ran a "free school" for poor children in Filey.... housed at the foot of the cliffs in the Villa Ambrosia (which type of work Sister Agathe Lemaitre) saw as the mainspring of their Mission."
"In their habits they became a familiar and highly respected sight on the streets of Filey ... visiting the sick and the poor. An isolated example of hostility, when a group of boys threw stones at the Sisters, was firmly dealt with by... the Anglican vicar, and was not repeated."
The history also notes that the local business population were also no doubt grateful that the Sisters' presence in Filey brought an increase in visitors as their chapel/church as well as the school attracted (spending) Catholics from further afield.
The school
DFrom its first days in the early 1900s, initially within the small Sacred Heart convent itself then on Cargate Hill, the school offered a strong dramatic and linguistic curriculum, making use both of its physical resources (large, light art rooms) and the native-speaking French Sisters. In 1913 the Sisters also offered daily adult education classes at the Convent including "cutting out, sewing and mending" for 3d a session, with "fancy needlework cost(ing) an additional threepence."Despite the bombardment of the East Yorkshire coastal ports and the evacuation of some pupils during World War I, which threatened the school/Convent's financial stability, the school/Convent went on to extend their pre-war activities in the next 30 years. From the 1921 roll numbers of 102 pupils, of which 22 were borders, by 1950 there were 70 borders. This expansion had necessitated expansion - a gymnasium, cloakrooms and kindergarten classrooms were added in 1921, and a large dormitory for younger borders was one of two new highlights in 1935 - along with the first washing machine! Girls were taught up to sixth form, and boys to the age of 8. The arrival of the comprehensive education system in the late 1960s spelt the end of the school as Filey had no other comparable school with which to merge.
Our school days
7.30am brought a Sister to the dormitory door calling "Benedicamus
Domino" to which the girls (only some apparently) replied "Deo Gratias".
A cold water wash in the bedroom was followed by Mass in the Convent
Chapel and breakfast (for all the girls, Catholic and others) followed.
An Old Girl recalls in the history that in the 1920s this meant "lumpy
porridge, bread, butter and tea, and on special occasions French rillettes (potted minced pork) was served.
More prayers (for all) followed breakfast then lessons through to lunch with a short break mid-morning. Lunch would be locally caught fish or meat, vegetables and a pudding.
Weather permitting a beach or countryside walk followed lunch. Rain would see indoor play instead. Outdoor sports offered including hockey, rounders, net-ball, croquet and tennis. With no playing fields the hockey was played on the beach. There were no showers either and the woollen clothes slowly dried out during the day, "producing a less than fragrant atmosphere in the classrooms."
Afternoon lessons followed until tea-time (bread and jam weekdays, and a boiled egg at weekends). Whilst the younger children played, older students did homework until a supper of bread and cocoa, prayers and bed.
School wardrobe
The girls were a familiar sight around Filey in the winter dressed in their black felt or velour hats (no band), navy blue coats and dresses. The summer costume was navy blue, a white dress, gloves and a Panama hat (with band). Girls would arrive at the beginning of term "with a navy blue tunic for everyday wear in school, three white blouses, two white knitted jerseys, both with long sleeves, two pairs of knitted white gloves, a plain white straw hat (no band), a pair of walking boots/shoes, a pair of house shoes, black dancing shoes, white canvas gym shoes and a pair of galoshes... 4 items of the usual underwear, stockings, 24 (!) pocket handkerchiefs, 2 pairs of sheets, 4 towels, 4 serviettes & 2 bath towels." And more!The dorms
In the 1920s the borders slept 4 to a room. each girl had their own bed, chair, and bedside table. There was one communal chest of drawers, atop of which were the china washbasin and jug. Until one bedroom was converted into a bathroom there was no running water, and central heating never arrived - small oil stoves were the only heating.* Serving God's people Sisters of Charity of Our lady of Evron English Province of the Congregation 1904 - 2000. Clive Price, Sister Anne Marie Crowley. The Catholic Printing Company of Farnworth.
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