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Introduction
The Dunelm school was one of the last of the many small private schools that served Whitstable in bygone days. As far as we can tell, the establishment survived into the early 1960s. It catered very much for local pupils and we know that many Natives passed through its ranks. With this sort of history, we would expect to be able to piece together quite a detailed story via our Visitors Book but, quite remarkably, we have been unable to do so.... yet! We hope that the brief description below (based on snippets collected over the years) will prompt ex-pupils to fill in the many missing details.
Location
The establishment occupied a large detached property on the high section of Tankerton Road. It was located on the south side of the roadway between the junctions with Park Avenue and Castle Road. Originally, the land was part of the massive Tankerton Estate. Much of that section of the estate was mapped out for development during the 1890s. As a result, the Dunelm building may well have been constructed at the end of the 19th or beginning of the twentieth century. In line with many houses of that period, it was allocated a substantial garden. The building remains a feature of Tankerton Road to this day, albeit as an apartment block surrounded by more modern properties....
It now bears the name "Seasalter House" and it seems possible that this was its original Victorian/Edwardian title.
History & Ownership
We don't know when the building first became a school. However, we do know that the Dunelm existed at least at the time of World War II. We also know that it was run by three sisters. Former pupil, Patrick McNeile, starts us off on our delve into its history....
Patrick's remark about TWO rather than THREE elderly ladies is understandable... because one of the sisters operated behind the scenes. Another former pupil, Joyce Goldfinch, outlines the staff deployment.....
The titles Miss Doris, Miss Gladys and Miss Ivy were far more welcoming than some of the titles used for teachers at other establishments and they helped to give the school its friendly atmosphere. The names are well remembered by ex-pupils. Sally Harlow, a member of the Stephenson family, has very kindly contacted Simply Whitstable with yet more details...
Clearly, the family had quite a connection with education. It's also fascinating to note the enthusiasm that North Easterners had (and still have) for their football! The North East has always been one of the great nurseries of the game... producing a string of magicians of the calibre of Jackie Milburn, Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer. However, Sally's account isn't just an insight into the lovely nature of the school's proprietors and the sporting enthusiasm of the North East. It may also give us a clue as to the origins of the school name.
The Dunelm Name
If we put the Stephenson family's involvement in education alongside its North Eastern roots, we may be able to unravel a few things. The name Dunelm is a term that is closely associated with both the City and University of Durham. According to Wikipedia, the name "Durham" was an amalgamation of the Old English word Dun (meaning hill) and the Norse word Holmer (meaning island). This gave rise to the term Dun Holm which was then translated into Latin as Dunelm. The Normans later completed the translations and caused more confusion by converting Dun Holm into Durham. Dunelm is also an abbreviation of the Latin "Dunelmenis" and it is used to indicate a degree awarded by the University of Durham. As yet, we do not know if the Stephenson sisters created their school from scratch or whether they simply acquired an existing school at Seasalter House. However, I'll bet a "pound to a penny" that they gave the school its "Dunelm" title. It may even be that one or more of the sisters received their education and training in Durham. What better way for the jolly sisters to remind themselves of their roots in the North East than to take a small piece of Whitstable and call it Durham.... without us knowing! Cheeky monkeys!
The School Uniform
Although student numbers were relatively modest by comparison to the town's major state and church establishments, Dunelm pupils were quite a familiar sight around Whitstable. Part of the reason for this was that, from 1945 until the establishment's demise in the 1960s, they wore a uniform that was quite distinct from other local schools.....
School Expansion... The Annex
We suspect that the school prospered during the early to mid-1950s as it actually acquired an annex to cope with its intake. This extra building was a couple of hundred yards away.... as Joyce Goldfinch explains
Of course, the Lawn Pavilion has its own place in Whitstable history. Originally an open air stage, it later became an indoor facility after the construction of a small, unassuming, single storey building. The building was used both as a theatre and cinema until the late 1940s or early 1950s..... before being taken over by the Dunelm. By then, I believe it was surrounded by a substantial hedge. In later years, The Pavilion building was demolished and the site became a picnic area. It is now little more than an extension of the Tankerton Slopes grass.
The School Population
The Dunelm appears to have been an infants and junior school with an age range between 5 and 11.
However, the situation may have been somewhat different for boy pupils.....
Certainly, David Roberts recalls the school as being largely for girls back in 1953....
Of course, the Stephenson sisters reaped the benefit of locating their establishment on the high ground of Tankerton. Sadly, the WTCS (a wholly Boys School run by Mr Sanders in Shaftesbury Road) suffered rather badly in '53.
Pupils of '47
It has been quite difficult to locate old photos of the school. However, Peter Wheeler has kindly sent this message from Tasmania and we believe that his photo enclosure includes some of the Dunelm pupils of the late 1940s...
In fact, the photo is of another Tankerton School - The PNEU. Anita Tuckwood has provided identification and explained the connection with the Dunelm...
If we can collect more information about the PNEU we will devote a separate page to the establishment.
School Life
Whilst we have very little information about life at the Dunelm, we do have a couple of snippets regarding the views it afforded pupils from its lofty position in Tankerton Road.....
At the rear of the property, first floor windows would have provided a view westward across Whitstable Bay to the Isle of Sheppey and framed some wonderful sunsets. Although many of the pupils lived within walking distance of Seasalter House, Miss Ivy's culinary skills were still required....
Post School Days
We do not know the precise date that the school closed. However, thanks to a message from Trevor Roberts, we know that the sisters made some substantial plans for their retirement....
It's just a guess but it seems quite possible that the sisters relinquished ownership of the the large school building once Stroud and Roberts had completed the work.
Fond Memories...
If you can help to piece together more of the school history or exchange memories, we would be glad to hear from you. From the messages received to date, it is quite clear that days at the Dunelm were happy and fondly recalled ones....
Final Words...
I'll leave the final words with Sally - the niece of Miss Doris, Miss Gladys and Miss Ivy.....
.... and just add my own little comment.... "Ha'way the girls"
Thanks To....
I would like to thank Sally Harlow, Joyce Goldfinch, Patrick McNeile, David Roberts, Trevor Roberts, Rosemary Gilbert, Agnes Jones and Peter Wheeler for making this short article possible
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