In 1901 the population of the town had grown to 6,002 in
1,332 houses. Of these, 2,451 were in All Saints Parish
which was about to be expanded in a substantial estate
(Wokingham’s first) around Seaford, Goodchild and
Wescott roads.
Under the Education Act 1902, which replaced the old
school boards, the County Council decided to build a new
school in this area. The churches were not happy about
this as it meant they would lose their hold over education
and pressurised the authorities to appoint the local vicar
to the board as Foundation Manager.
Wescott School is named after Thomas Manley Wescott,
the first mayor of Wokingham. It cost £6,500 and opened
on January 8 1906, with 222 children aged five to 14 years.
It was designed by Edmund Fisher, responsible for more
than 20 schools in Berkshire.
Its design allows for classrooms to open on to a central
hall, together with movable partitions to allow further
flexibility when required.
In time, as the system changed, Wescott School catered
for 100 children from five to eight years, when most then
went to Westende School nearby.
Its centenary was celebrated in 2006 and an official
memorial was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal.
Wescott School is the oldest school in Wokingham in its
original premises.
Because of its contribution to Wokingham’s heritage, this building is part of the Wokingham Society’s Blue Plaque Trail. A leaflet giving details of all of the buildings on the Trail can be obtained from the Wokingham Town Hall Information Centre and Wokingham Library. An electronic version is available from www.wokinghamsociety.org.uk The Trail is also available on a downloadable App called Wokingham Town History.
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0318