Items from the Parish Archives.

St. Mary's School in the early years of the twentieth century.

	The interior of the main room of St. Mary's School in the early years of the twentieth century from the Percy Elford archive. The crucifix, statues and pictures identify this as a Catholic school although its intake was not exclusively Catholic at this time. Just visible beyond the cupboard with the selection of geometric shapes on top is the raised chair for the teacher,the headmistress at the time was Elizabeth Durham, and the open fire which was the only source of heating. British geography was apparently on the timetable - the map on the easel is of Scotland.
	The infants' room at St.Mary's School from the Percy Elford collection. Behind the larger main room was a later smaller addition for the younger children. Visible are the long desks at which the children sat. Some of the children are just visible at the bottom of the picture. Their ghostly appearance is due to them moving during the long exposure needed for the photograph.
	Another view of the main room of the old St.Mary's School from Percy Elford, this time with a class taking place. Only the boy smartly dressed in a shirt with a collar, jacket and boots standing in front of the class has remained still long enough to be recorded clearly. The blurred appearance of his classmates is again due to them moving during the long exposure needed for the picture. Just visible on the far wall is the door leading to the infants' room.
	The rear of the old St. Mary's School from Percy Elford showing the rather muddy girls and infants playground. In the late 1930s the need for more room would lead to the building of two wooden classrooms to the back of the original stone building.
	The front of the old St. Mary's School facing Piggy Lane showing the boys' playground. In those days the boys and the girls and infants had separate playgrounds. During the Second World War a Catholic Women's League canteen would be built in the open space to the left of the picture which would in turn become part of the school.
	A final view of the inside of the main room of the old St. Mary's School from Percy Elford. Visible are the rows of desks and the raised chair for the teacher who at this time would have to keep control of a nmber of children of differing ages. Many thanks to Mark Lawrence from the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies for the pictures.