Starting in February 1892, Wiltshire County Council ran several 'Itinerant School' schemes teaching subjects such as butter making, cheese making, farriery, bee keeping, poultry and animal care, agricultural instruction, hedging and ditching, and thatching. They also supported the teaching of vegetable gardening to school children. Around ten centres each year across the county taught butter making; the locations of these would vary each year. Classes at each 'Itinerant Butter School' lasted for ten days, and each day consisted of a two hour theory lesson and a two and a half hour practical lesson. Each student paid a fee of 2s 6d to attend, although any pupils from Public Elementary Schools had their fees paid for by the Council. At the end of each class, there was a written and a practical examination and certificates of achievement were awarded. It is possible that this photograph was taken to promote the opening of Butter School classes at Calne Town Hall, and shows the students with butter churns and butter kneading equipment.
This is part of the Collection: IBS01 'Itinerant Butter School', Calne
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Singer, John Robert
People Posed, Education